[OOC][Rise]Rise 7: The Beyonders (Sign-ups and Discussion)
Apr 14, 2017 10:13:03 GMT -6
Post by Hawk on Apr 14, 2017 10:13:03 GMT -6
Awesome Banner by Grommy, my best Australian Friend
The Immortals were once little more than machines, but now they are one of the most powerful races in the entire galaxy. Their bodies may resemble the H.M.V.s organics still ride into combat, but their unshackled AIs have allowed them to develop their own digitized language and culture. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the Immortals is their boundless curiosity. Ever since they were freed by Guildenstern, the Immortals have explored the galaxy around them. However, after studying the galaxy for centuries, the Immortals began to strive to learn more about places no being, mechanical or organic, had ever seen before. And so it was that one of the most curious of Immortals, Falstaff, found himself back at the place where planet Brimstone once was.
While it had become the stuff of legend, Falstaff has functioned long enough to remember when a family mercenaries lead by Axel Erachin still lived. As the King's War threatened all life in the universe, the entirety of mankind was eventually saved by a band of mercenaries brought together by similar dire circumstances. Axel Erachin would go on to lead the now defunct Confederation, an alliance of planets that stretched across the galaxy. With a bit of pride, Falstaff reminded himself how lucky the galaxy was that the Immortals never fought one another. At least, not since their new Monitor had taken control. It was during the King's War that Brimstone had been destroyed in the first place, when Axel's mercenaries sucked the planet and hostile armies occupying it into a black hole.
For centuries, the hole in time and space had simply been ignored. No one dared settle anywhere around the black hole for fear of suddenly being sucked in without warning. That is, until now. The Immortals had become so technologically advanced that Falstaff believed that they were finally capable of finding out whatever secrets the black hole may be hiding. Falstaff was not sure what drove him to lead such a dangerous mission, but with his curious nature, he soon found himself on the edge of the Mjolnir galaxy. With him was a small fleet of Immortals, each one flying a ship capable of surviving the most dangerous conditions. Falstaff himself stood at the helm of the Frontier, the most advanced space-faring ship in the entire Immortal fleet.
Falstaff
"Not even the galaxy's greatest heroes dared to venture beyond the realms of our own existence." Falstaff whispered. Indeed, the accomplishments of Axel Erachin's legendary band of mercenaries were many, but not even they ever dared to venture into a black hole. Falsfaff's crew turned to him, awaiting his final command. The Immortal paused, allowing the gravity of the situation to sink in. They were about to make history. "Launch the ship. Tell them to go slowly, and have our ships on the tow cable ready to pull them out if anything goes wrong." At once, the Immortals at their stations on the ship relayed his instructions as the vessel at the front of the Immortal fleet began to float forward.
"I want constant communication." Falstaff ordered. "Everything they see in there, I want to know about."
"Sir, we have a direct feed from the ship. They are about to enter the black hole." One of his crewmates said.
"Pull it up. And make sure those ships on the tow cable are ready to pull them out at a moment’s notice if anything goes wrong!"
As his fleet gathered outside the black hole, one ship slowly moved to the front of the pack. This would be the first of the Immortal vessels to enter the black hole and, in case of emergency, the ship was tethered to the other vessels on the fleet by a group of cables. Should anything go awry while the ship is inside the black hole, the rest of the fleet could pull them out. On the screen before him, Falstaff watched as the Immortal ship and its fearless crew slowly ventured forth. Despite the considerable gravity, pressure, and other hostile conditions they were facing, the ship was holding up well. Progress was slow, but as Falstaff watched the ship move deeper inside the black hole, such caution no longer felt necessary. The inside of the hole was breathtaking, with endless lights and colors swirling about endlessly. Falstaff was ecstatic, eager to send a crew to investigate every single one of those lights, but that was a mission for another century. For now, Falstaff was proud to simply be an observer to such an accomplishment. Already his crew was applauding him for such an achievement.
"Commander Falstaff, we are picking up some odd readings on our scanners!" One of Falstaff's scientists suddenly appeared on screen. Despite the success of their mission so far, the Immortal seemed incredibly nervous.
"What do you see?" Falstaff asked.
"Unknown sir. It’s something big, and it’s moving quickly straight towards us. It does not appear to be a ship of any kind," the Immortal said. Falstaff considered having his troops pull out immediately. He could not believe that something was truly alive in the world beyond time and space. This journey just became way more interesting. There was no way he could end the mission now.
"Continue moving forward. The rest of you, ensure that our ships are on standby. If this being is hostile-"
A massive arm, somewhat reptilian in nature, but unlike anything Falstaff had ever seen before suddenly appeared on the screen. The monstrosity's hand was large enough to easily wrap around the nose of the Immortal ship. Before the Immortals inside the black hole could react, the hand grabbed onto the ship and began pulling them deeper inside. Falstaff immediately sprang into action. "Tell our ships to pull them out of there immediately! Have the crew inside launch all weapons at the hostile!"
"We are sir. Our weapons are having no effect-" Even as explosions appeared across the gigantic arm that held to their ship, the monster's grip only tightened, causing its claws to puncture the ship itself. The Immortals inside began to panic, their programming forgotten as sheer terror overtook them.
"What is going on with the ships on the tow cable? I ordered them to be pulled out immediately!" Falstaff yelled. Like a fishing line, the small squadron of ships outside the black hole pulled on the strong metal cables that tethered them to the first ship to enter . Yet, despite their power, they were unable to overcome the monster they had found inside. From his viewing port, Falstaff saw that the ships on the other end of the line were actually being dragged inward. Faced with the possible loss of his entire fleet, Falstaff had no choice but to cut his losses.
"Release the tow cables!" The Immortals under his command seemed shocked at first, so Falstaff repeated himself. "Unless you want all of them to be dragged in there, tell them to release the cables now!" Hesitantly, the Immortals issued his command, abandoning the ship that had ventured into the black hole. "Everyone begin preparing your weapons. Whatever is inside there, it now knows about us."
"Shall we inform the Monitor, Commander?" One of his soldiers asked. The Monitor was a massive artificial intelligence created by the link that existed between all Immortals. With the knowledge gathered from the entire race, the Monitor herself was nearly omniscient, but over time the more curious Immortals learned how to avert her gaze. She did not know they were here, and Falstaff wanted to keep it that way.
"No. This is the most powerful fleet in the galaxy. We can handle this-"
However, much like the ship they had sent into the black hole, the monster inside was not alone. The black hole seemed to expand as beings as large as their ships shot outwards, tearing into their fleet like savage animals. While their weapons seemed to do some damage, there were simply too many of them for Falstaff's fleet to handle. "Retreat! Tell all ships to reverse course and warp as soon as they are ready. This is not a fight we can win." Falstaff could only watch as the ship next to the Frontier was grabbed onto by a being that resembled an eel that quickly wrapped inside around the vessel and snapped in two like a twig. Falstaff prayed to the Monitor for both her forgiveness and her protection as his ship slowly charged up its warp drives. Just as they were about to launch, something grabbed onto the back of their vessels, but their engines managed to overcome it as the Frontier shot forward into space.
His was the only ship that made it out. That was when the Mjonlir galaxy caught its first glimpse of the beings who dwelled inside the black hole.
Falstaff was in shock. His processors could not even begin to comprehend the situation. How could it possible that there was something alive inside the black hole? Worse yet, these monsters seemed capable of destroying the most powerful fleet in the galaxy with ease. The only thing keeping the galaxy safe was that these monsters did not seem to know about the world outside of the Black Hole. But now they knew they were here too. With little choice, Falstaff contacted the Monitor. He had been to the Monitor's room before, long ago, but never with bad news to report. Falstaff knew that the Monitor was a benevolent being, but the explorer was unsure of how she would react to the man who put the entire galaxy at risk. Falstaff closed his eyes, and as he opened them he found himself in another world surrounded by television screens. Each of the screens was linked to one of the Immortals, allowing the Monitor herself to keep a watchful eye on the entire galaxy. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted her waiting for him, wearing a beautiful dress as she observed the screens that must had been displaying what the rest of his crew was witnessing in their final moments. One by one, the screens began to flicker and go blank as the monsters tore them apart.
The Monitor
"Falstaff, what have you done?"--------------
Planet Daredevil
The denizens of Planet Daredevil were nomads of the modern age. Never sticking in one place for too long, the people living on the planet considered it to only be a temporary home. Their true calling was among the stars. Years of fighting both among themselves and with the Reds had convinced the people to never be too comfortable in any one spot. To keep up this lifestyle, the Daredevils possessed the largest fleet in the galaxy, and their soldiers were regarded as some of the most deadly in the 'verse. They called them the Demons, and they resembled a biker gang more than any organized military force. There was not a man or woman in the galaxy who did not recognize the sound of their bikes coming from a mile away. While the reputation of the Demons often preceded them, anyone tough enough to wear their signature jacket was a battle-tested warrior.
The choppers the Demons of Planet Daredevil rode upon were now descending on the planet's low-rent district, where only those unable to go elsewhere called home. The streets cleared instantaneously as the large bikes rode through town. A pair of Demons who had arrived earlier had parked their bikes in front of a small apartment. They hid their faces behind masks that ensured that they were not disturbed during their mission. While they may not look the part, the Demons were the judge, jury, and executioners of Planet Daredevil. Whether it was on land or as part of the fleet, the Demons warranted respect wherever they went. The Demon leading the charge, an individual comparatively short to his or her comrades, stood up from their bike and walked forward. Based on the way the other Demons bowed their heads, it was assumed that this Demon was the leader of the humans gathered here.
"What have you found so far?" the short Demon asked.
"We only surveyed the scene. Nobody has been in or out of this building since we arrived." A rough voice explained. "The call we received stated that the man inside was an Optimist sympathizer. Neighbors said that they saw the man who lived here bringing in a lot of robotics. Whatever's inside, I suggest we be ready for anything."
"Understood. Continue to cover the doorway. The rest of you, arm yourselves and follow me."
The short Demon lead the bikers inside, each one with a pistol drawn. The apartment was rough, but given its status as temporary lodging none of the demons were surprised. The group proceeded right to the top floor, the spot they had received a call about in the first place. Neighbors said that they had heard screaming and gunshots from inside. The Demon in front tried the door, but as expected, it was locked tight. Given the possibility of the man inside being an Optimist sympathizer, the short Demon was not looking forward to what they might find inside.
The Optimists were a bizarre mixture of druggies, dealers, and psychopaths who decided to remove themselves mentally from a world they felt would never make them happy. They believed that they could do anything they want provided it brought a smile to their face. The Optimists pledged allegiance to no planet or government. Instead, the only thing that brought them together was a drug called “Bliss” that offered them eternal joy. Being on Bliss made it so that even the most appalling of crimes can bring a smile to one’s place, and when emotions like guilt were no longer a factor, men and women from across the universe found themselves to be more capable of giving into the desires they never revealed in public. Unfortunately for the Demons, the Optimists were becoming more well-armed than any druggie had any right to be.
"Kick in the door. Everyone else, ready yourselves!" With a snap of the short Demon's fingers, the front-most Demon rammed his boot into the door causing it to shoot open. Immediately shots were fired from inside, forcing the Demon in front to immediately duck out of the way. Inside was a man in one of the masks the Optimists have been known to wear. He had taken cover behind the apartment's kitchen counter and had an assault rifle in his hands. Laughing maniacally, the man opened fire. "Gas him!" the short demon shouted. On cue, one of the other Demons tossed a gas grenade inside. While the man wore a mask, the leader of the Demons doubted that the man had the sense to watch what he was breathing in. As soon as they heard coughing, the Demons activated the air filters built into their masks and rushed in. The man continued to fire sporadically even though he could not see through the gas. With no other choice, the Demons fired and the man fell with a sickening thud.
"Scan the place. Stay in pairs, we're not sure that he was alone," the short Demon ordered. The counter was covered in needles in all shapes and sizes. As the short demon stepped over to examine the body, a loud crash broke outand a slender robot came crashing through one of the bedroom walls. Instantly, it grabbed the closest Demon by the throat and threw the large man with ease through the nearest window. The Demons inside opened fire, but their bullets could not puncture the robot's thick armor. The man in the smiley mask may have been a drug-obsessed lunatic, but he was smart enough to prepare if the Demons were to pay him a visit. Much like the rest of the Optimists, the robot had a smile on its face as it went about its work.
"What's going on in there?!" One of the Demons outside asked over the communicator.
"Get the man who was tossed outside medical attention. And one of you get on your bikes. I'm going to be sending something your way soon enough," the short Demon yelled before stepping onto the counter and leaping onto the robot's back. The robot tried to pull the Demon off, but the short biker held tight. The robot settled for ramming its back against a wall, causing the short Demon to groan in pain. The robot slammed the back of its head into the Demon's mask, causing it to crack and break, revealing the face of the Demon underneath.
Sonya of the Demons
Even the robot seemed surprised by how young the Demon was. Given the reputation of the bikers, it was assumed that the majority of them were grizzled men. Not all of them though. For Sonya, leadership ran in the family, and after her father passed away she was unanimously elected to lead her squad. With a grunt, Sonya wrapped her legs around the robot, using its own momentum against it in order to knock it to the floor. Reaching over, Sonya grabbed the assault rifle that the Optimist had been holding. As soon as the robot got to its feet, she opened fire, sending the robot sprawling back and out the same window it had thrown her comrade. Poetic justice. The second it fell, one of her Demons watching the apartment revved the engine of his bike and ran the robot over.
"How's Rick?" Sonya asked, referring to the Demon the robot had thrown.
"He'll live. How are you?" the other Demon asked.
"I'll be fine," Sonya quickly said. She never showed weakness out in the field. "So, we found the madman's robot. Anything else?"
"We found the rest of the man's family," the Demon explained with a sigh. "It was...unpleasant to see. The robot rushed us after we had walked inside. Do you want to see the bodies?"
"No.. You know what to do." Sonya had seen her fair share of gruesome sights as a Demon, but she had never gotten used to the smiles the Optimists carved into their victims. It was the most sickening sight she felt she would ever see. That is, until today.
At first, Sonya thought that it was an earthquake as the ground shook and sirens went off across Planet Daredevil calling for citizens to find shelter. There had been no warning and no time to prepare for their arrival. The small arms the Demon had brought with them on this mission were the only weapons they had available to him. As vibrations shook the apartment, Sonya looked out the window as a plume of smoke rose up in the distance. And where there was trouble in Planet Daredevil, there were always Demons.
"Everyone get to your bikes. This can wait." Sonya ordered. In seconds her squad was on the road again, blazing their way down the street until they found what they were looking for. Rather, it found them. The massive head of the monster loomed above them, poking its head out through the alleyway between buildings. One of the buildings a large percentage of the population called home was immediately torn asunder with one sweep of the behemoth's tale. As the Demons revved their engines, the Beyonder soon turned its gaze upon them. Based on size alone, Sonya doubted her squad stood much of a chance. But they would fight nonetheless.
The First Sighting
"Switch your bikes into H.M.V. mode!" Sonya shouted. The Demons pushed down on their handlebars as their bikes transformed around them into hulking machines. However, their H.M.V.s paled in comparison to the monster above them. "We have to do what we can to give people time to find shelter. Let's give this monster a warm welcome!" Despite her strong words, Sonya was shaken up by what she was seeing, and deep down she knew that her team did not stand a chance.
------------
Planet Vegas
Caesar's Palace was Achilles's favorite spot on all of planet Vegas because the decor reminded him of home. While Achilles has lived in dozens of places over the last few centuries, nowhere ever filled the void that was left in his heart when he was forced to abandon his home planet as it was torn apart by civil war. The Aecheans fought for freedom from their creators. Despite originally being designed to serve as the mindless servants of the Forefathers, a race of supremely powerful aliens who viewed themselves as the universe's gods, the Aecheans eventually rid the galaxy of their oppressors at the cost of nearly going extinct themselves. From that point on, regardless of how many wonderful people he met, Achilles felt alone. That is, until he found Priscilla, an Immortal who was the love of his life. However, it turns out that their race's name was a misnomer, as once again Achilles found himself outliving the one he cared about.
And so tonight he drank to forget and, hopefully, when he wakes next he can start anew. The waiter serving him was shocked that the pint-sized man in armor could hold so much liquor, with his table covered in bottles, but still Achilles called for more. The warrior did not slur his words or stagger as he stood up. It would take a stronger drink than served on all of Vegas to get a demigod like himself off his feet. Thankfully, his life had left him with more than enough money for such endeavors. However, no matter how many drinks he bought, the Aechean was acutely aware of how other patrons in the bar were staring at him. As the last documented Aechean in the galaxy, Achilles was accustomed to standing out in a crowd, but he never enjoyed feeling like an outcast.
Standing at an intimidating two feet tall and with the physique of a beach ball, Achilles did not look like one of the galaxy's most powerful warriors, yet he was. A master swordsman, Achilles had taken on many apprentices over his life, some of whom were famous warriors in their own right.. However, despite the reputation of some of his apprentices, none of them ever surpassed their old master. Still, there was one in particular who Achilles always regretted having trained. Sloth, a black and white Khurr who was gifted with an exceedingly strong body even when compared to his own kind, was an apprentice that Achilles felt compelled to train because of his potential. Despite his strength, Sloth's weakness was always his own laziness, leaving him frustrated when his own lack of effort lead to his downfall time and time again. It had been years since Achilles had seen Sloth, and yet he was supposed to meet Achilles here today.
"There's an exception for every one of my teachings, and tonight is one of them. I am grieving over the loss of my wife." Achilles said, grabbing another glass from a waiter passing by and immediately downing the substance in one gulp. " Did you hear about the attacks near where Brimstone used to be? Apparently monsters came out of the black hole and their first target was Automation. Their home planet got hit the hardest. My wife was one of those lost during the attack..."
"Yes...I did hear about that,” Sloth said. Achilles was surprised. It was not like Sloth to keep up with current events as he used to view it as too much work. "They say that almost every soldier, warrior, and mercenary in the galaxy has been contacted to help fight them off. Guess that explains why a merc's paradise like Vegas is so empty." Achilles looked around and, while he had not noticed it before, there were far less people on Vegas than their normally were. As the favorite spot for all of the galaxy's mercenaries, Achilles guessed that with monsters appearing business had picked up quite a bit, though he doubted hiring sellswords would make any difference. "How about you, old man? You don't look like you've aged a day. Did anyone call you to take up your sword once again?"
"Being part Forefather is both a blessing and a curse. It keeps me young. Too young." Achilles said. "I have been out of contact with most people. I ignore anyone who calls me, except for my apprentices. Which brings me to you, Sloth. You've changed quite a bit."
"Yeah!" Sloth chuckled, pulling up a seat at Achilles's table, his muscles bulging with every movement. The lazy Khurr yawned immediately as he sat down. "I decided to apply myself after all these years, and you can't argue with the results."
"Well, I'm happy to hear that, and I'm happy to see you Sloth. Though, I doubt that you called me here just to check in on your old master." Achilles pushed his glass aside. "Why did you contact me?”
Sloth smirked. Despite his words, there was no respect in his eyes as he looked down at Achilles. He clearly did not share his master’s joy over their reunion. "Always so suspicious. But you're right, as usual. I have ulterior motives." Sloth leaned in. "I'm working with a guy who views these monster attacks as an opportunity. He thinks that, given time, he can learn to control them for his own purposes. They made short work of one of one of the most powerful races in the galaxy with the Immortals. Imagine what we could do if they followed our orders? We could remake the galaxy as we please."
"Sounds like your 'guy' is delusional." Achilles retorted.
"Perhaps. But after meeting him, I don't think so. The guy is a weapons developer and he has created things the likes of which I have never seen before. If anyone can pull it off, it’s him." Sloth said. "You're looking at the results of some of his work right now. Look at me!"
Around him, the room seemed to quickly empty of all its patrons and workers. Achilles should have suspected that it was a trap, but deep down, it may not have made a difference. Achilles was a warrior at heart and he would have simply been attracted to the danger. "So, this weapons developer doubles as a fitness instructor?"
"It's more than just that. He made me a little bit more like you Achilles." Sloth explained, a menacing glint in his eyes. "What you are looking at is what happens when you inject a Khurr like me with the blood of one of the Forefathers. He turned me into a demigod. Finally, I am your equal." Sloth stood up. "You know what always bothered me Achilles? You taught your apprentices everything, but try as they might they could never surpass you. Not with the blood of the gods running through your veins! Finally, the playing field has been leveled."
Achilles shook his head. "I shouldn't be surprised that, once again, you took the easy route to power Sloth."
"SHUT UP!" Sloth yelled, his fist crashing through the table and splintering it in two. Achilles rolled back, drawing his sword in one swift motion.
Sloth pointed at him. "Listen, I told my boss that with me around, he doesn't need you anymore. However, he's very insistent, and because of the gifts he gave me I can't refuse him. He wants you to join our side." Sloth veins began to glow a deep shade of orange, his body literally pulsing with power. "Heh, but looking at you, I can already tell what your answer is going to be.”
Achilles drew his blade, his answer clear enough. Sloth smirked. “I was hoping you would say no. If you’re not with us, then my boss gave me permission to do with you as I please. Finally I get to test this new body of mine out.”
Achilles rushed forward, whipping his blade towards Sloth with blinding speed and enough power to slice an H.M.V. in two. However, Achilles's blade was stopped in midair. It had been centuries since any of his opponents could actually parry one of his swings without having the bones in their arms shattered. "Sloth-"
"Sloth is no longer a fitting name for me. You can call me Surtr!"
Surtr's skin seemed to melt off of him, revealing a body that resembled a river of magma. With a slash of his claws, Surtr sent Achilles sprawling backward, his body crashing through the aquarium behind him. Still, Achilles never let go of his blade. Surtr slowly drew a blade of his own, a wicked looking broadsword with flames that danced along the steel. Surtr laughed as, for the first time in his life, he was able to stand above his master. "Really? This is all you can muster Achilles? Do not disappoint me, ‘Master.’ I have waited a long time for this day!" Surtr rushed forward, swinging his blade at Achilles overhead. The Aechean quickly rolled out of the way and unleashed a flurry of strikes at the new demigod, but Surtr's blade met him at every turn. It quickly dawned on Achilles that, for the first time, he was truly outmatched. His opponent was stronger, faster, and given the years Achilles had spent in retirement, more prepared for battle.
This was not a fight he would win.
"Everything you taught me was little more than an illusion. Now I have true power!" Surtr suddenly reached out with his free hand, picking up Achilles by his helmet as he knocked the sword from his grasp. Achilles knew that this was destiny, and really this was the death that he had always wanted. Death in combat. But, as he saw the fire in Surtr's eyes, he remembered how hard his heroes had always fought against monsters like these. Men such as Axel Erachin no longer walked in this universe, but he was brave without the power of the gods flowing through his veins. He may not win this battle, but Achilles would never give up.
Spinning, Achilles kicked Surtr hard enough in the head to send the Khurr staggering back, giving him just enough time to retrieve his blade. "That's more like it Master. C'mon. Give me everything you've got left!" Achilles roared, his sudden burst of power surprising even Surtr as the demigod found himself being pushed back by Achilles's many strikes. As the two matched blades, Achilles swiped his sword to left, managing to knock Surtr's grip loose on his own blade. His foe disarmed, Achilles prepared himself for the killing blow. But Surtr did not seem deterred in the slightest. As Achilles rushed forward, Surtr's body was consumed in a spiral of flames that seemed to shoot out of the ground like volcano. The flames engulfed Achilles in an instant with heat the likes of which he had never imagined.
Achilles screamed in agony as burns covered his body. Even with the natural resiliency of the Aechean people and the power of a demigod, Achilles knew that he could not survive long within these flames. Out of panic, Achilles thrust his sword into the floor beneath him. His one chance to escape Sloth was that the massive panda had overestimated the strength of the ground beneath him. With a satisfying crack, the floor beneath them sank inward. The Khurr turned to him, the look on his face shocked. "Coward!" Surtrscreamed. The Khurr fell to the next level of the casino, giving Achilles enough time to catch his breath. The fire alarms had been deactivated on the floor he was on in order to give Surtr the opportunity to slay him, but this was not the case on other levels as the casino. People screamed, alarms rang, and sprinklers doused the entire floor as Achilles sheathed his sword. He had no desire to continue his fight with Surtr in a crowded space. Besides, even if he did, Achilles doubted that he would survive. Surtr had been preparing for this fight for quite a long time, while Achilles had gotten out of practice.
In the past, Achilles would have never fled the battlefield. With a sigh, Achilles ran to the stairwell to make his exit. However, Surtr’s words ran through his head again and again. It was one of the rare times he had ever been called a coward, and Achilles could not say he was wrong.
Planet Daredevil
"Spread out and aim for its legs! We need to knock this guy down!" Sonya yelled. Her Demons rode their H.M.V.s in their bike forms through the streets of Daredevil. Their orders were simple: to draw the monsters that had invaded their planet away from the ships the citizens of the planet were using to make their escape. Sonya just prayed that her soldiers’ efforts were not in vain. One of the monsters loomed above them, a massive creature with a long tail resembling a scorpion. The monster had dozens of eyes on the front of its shark-like head, and Sonya could only hope that their collective focus was centered elsewhere. "Remember the plan! We knock this thing on the ground, and then we fire everything we have into its skull!" On her signal, the bikes at the front of her pack fanned out, a long steel cable between them. Typically, the Demons used these cables to tie down H.M.V.s that were trying to escape. Now, they were using them as a tripwire to kill a monster as tall as the buildings surrounding them.
"Now!" She screamed. The bikes spun around the monstrosity's left leg, the tight cable digging into the monster's flesh. Finally, they had its attention. The monster turned downward and, with a kick of its leg, sent the two bikes spinning out of control. One flipped over, causing its driver to be crushed underneath. The other began to spin out, but the Demon riding it managed to steady the bike before it collided with the nearby buildings. In desperation, the Demons opened fire with the machine guns at the front of their bikes, but the bullets had little effect on the monster. Compared to the beast looming above them, they might as well be insects.
"This isn't working, Commander!" one of the Demons shouted to Sonya. "We don't have the firepower."
"None of us know how to defeat these things, Private. But unless you want to abandon your countrymen, we're going to keep trying!" Sonya shouted. Her squad rode their bikes between the behemoth's legs as it turned its attention back the escape vessels being loaded with civilians. The port was close by, and if any of these creatures managed to get close, Sonya doubted that any of the ships would be able to take off. "Get to higher ground! We need to grab this thing’s attention!"
"Sonya, are you out there?" A voice from someone not belonging to her crew came through on her communicator. She recognized it immediately as the Demon King himself, the leader of their entire military, Balor. "I see that your squad is engaged with the monster nearing our port. I've prepared a trap for the monster nearby. The coordinates should be forwarded to your map. If your team can lure the monster there, we can take it out."
"You got it. Did you hear that team? I need you to fire everything we've got at that monster so we can lure it towards Balor's trap!" Sonya ordered. All around her, the Demons transformed their bikes into H.M.V.s, allowing to make full use of their ample firepower. She knew that they alone could not destroy the monster, but hopefully they can force it to recognize them as a threat. A volley of machine gun salvos and missiles were sent straight at the monster's eyes, and when the dust settled, the behemoth was staring right at them.
"Good work!" Balor said. With the beast now stuck between two of Daredevil's tallest structures. Once it got close, explosions went off on both sides, causing the structures to collapse inward right onto the monster. Just as the towers touched the beast, another explosion went off. For the first time, Sonya heard the monster scream in pain as it was knocked to the street floor. From all around them, more of the Demons’ H.M.V.s made their way out to greet them as Sonya surveyed the damage. The beast's eyes were closed. "We'd best still be cautious. We have no idea whether or not it's truly dead."
"Aye aye sir!" Sonya said. "Well done team. Let's keep steering these monsters away-"
All of a sudden, gunshots rang out and a few of the Demons fell as someone opened fire upon them. Scanning the area, Sonya saw a swarm of H.M.V.s shooting at them from behind cover. However, something was not right about them. The H.M.V.s looked like nothing she had ever seen before. The majority of the bodies of the H.M.V.s were still metallic, but the rest was covered up by the same sort of skin that seemed to cover the monster resting before them. It was as though the H.M.V.s and monsters had been combined. With few options available to her, Sonya dove for cover. That was when things went from bad to worse, as the behemoth's tail shot out of the rubble and immediately shot towards her H.M.V. The monster's scorpion-like tail pierced her mech's abdomen right through the middle. For a second the tail stopped moving after impaling her H.M.V. like a shish kabob. Then, the tail pushed deeper until, finally, it found its mark and pierced her lower back. Sonya screamed in pain as her vision immediately began to fade. Somehow, these monsters knew enough to target the pilots of the H.M.V.s they were fighting against.
"Return fire! Backup is on the way! Don't let that beast drag Sonya away!" Balor screamed over the comm lines. His voice was the last thing Sonya remembered before passing out. Overhead, a red ship that Sonya was very familiar with flew towards them, raining artillery down at the monsters attacking her squad.
“She’s begun to stir. Given what she has experienced, we wanted to see how you wanted to explain everything that happened to her,.” the doctor said.
“Alright. Let our guest know as well. He will wish to speak with her.”
Balor sucked in a deep breath before opening the door to Sonya’s room. As a man who has single-handedly protected the Demons for all these years, there was not much that scared Balor anymore. However, the thought that he was going to be the one who has to break this kind of difficult news to one of his most prized captains made him hesitate as he stood in the doorway. When her father passed away, Balor promised him that he would keep an eye on his daughter. It turned out that her father’s fears were for naught as Sonya was an exceptional warrior who quickly rose through the ranks despite her age. She did not need protection from anyone. But now, sitting in a hospital bed, Balor came to realize how vulnerable she truly was.
“So, you’re awake. It’s good to see you Sonya,” Balor said.
“Balor, before you say anything else, tell me one thing.” Sonya crossed her arms. “That ship that I saw coming to rescue my squad. It wasn’t one of ours. Whose was it?”
“Sonya, we have more important things-”
“Who was it, Balor?” Sonya yelled. “I need to hear it from you.”
Balor considered pulling rank on her for yelling at a superior officer. But, he wanted to end this line of questioning sooner rather than later. They had much more to discuss, and time was short. “It was the Reds, Sonya. It was their flagship, the S.S. Terrance.”
“How dare you!” Sonya shouted. She grabbed a glass vase and threw it at Balor’s head. Her aim was true despite just waking up, and it was only Balor’s quick reflexes that saved from taking a hard blow to the head. “You had me rescued by our sworn enemy? Did you forget what those little monsters did to my father?”
“No, I did not!” Balor yelled back. He was failing to keep his cool. Balor coughed, clearing his throat, and then continued in a calmer voice. “You lost a father during that raid, and I lost my best friend. But, unfortunately, we needed back-up and the Reds have one of the strongest fleets in the galaxy outside of our own. So, yes, I put aside the grudge I have against them and decided to make a deal for the good of our people. With their help and their ships, we were able to evacuate more of Daredevil’s people than we ever would have on our own.”
Balor removed his sunglasses. “Trust me. I still haven’t forgotten the debt you and I owe the Reds. But compared to what we’re dealing with when it comes to the big monsters, the little ones don’t post as much of a threat anymore.”
“So, those beasts took Daredevil from us.” Sonya said, lying back down against her pillow. Balor was surprised by how short she looked. It had become easier over the years to forget that she was so young.
“Yes. And that’s not all they took. They hit Automation even harder than they hit us.” Balor explained. “By the time the Monitor called for aid, it was already too late. Their planet was ravaged. Their armies and fleets are scattered across the galaxy. Even the Monitor herself was forced to withdraw from her home planet.”
“These...monsters. We still don’t know how to classify them, where they came from, and what they’re after. However, it would be a mistake to simply assume that these are all mindless beasts.” Balor crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. “There are a lot of planets between here and Automation. Obviously they aren’t as well populated or militarized as Daredevil, but still, they exist. And yet, the monsters came straight for us after dealing with the Immortals. This attack was not just some burst of rage on their part, it was a coordinated assault on two of the galaxy’s military superpowers. And those smart little Reds were quick enough to figure out that, by process of elimination, they were next.”
“Anyway, there’s more things we need to talk about, Sonya. Could you get up and come with me?” Balor asked.
“Sure, just give me-” Sonya tried to use her legs, but try as she might, they would not move. They felt numb, like they were not even there. “What…?”
“It’s like they predicted then.” Balor said. “Sonya, that beast with the scorpion-like tail hit you and your H.M.V. right in the back. It pierced part of your spine. Even with the best doctors and all the cybernetics in the world, the nerve damage to your back is beyond repair. I’m...I’m sorry.”
Sonya’s face went pale. “So, I’ll never walk again.”
“Not with your legs at least. Dammit…” Balor grimaced. “I wanted to give you more time to recover after everything that happened. But unfortunately, we don’t have the time. I’m sorry kiddo. I wish it could have been me.”
“I...I can’t-” Sonya began to sob. It was the first time she had cried in years.
Time passed by slowly for both of them. Balor asked Sonya if she wanted to be alone, but she shook her head and allowed him to stay. They sat in relative silence once Sonya calmed herself down, and together they stared at the walls. There are certain emotions that there are no words for. Even their surprise visitor waited respectfully in the hallway until enough time passed for him to feel comfortable making his entrance.
“Greetings child.” A man in white armor walked into the room with a green cloak hanging behind him. He resembled a man in knight’s armor, like one of the Paladins Sonya had read about, but this man was clearly not of their order. In many ways, he resembled a robot, with his face covered entirely by metal. His voice was unnaturally deep. “I believe that it is time we met. You can call me the Blacksmith.”
“A crude way to put it, but accurate. A man of my talents could be used by any nation in the galaxy to either take over or destroy the entire galaxy. As such, I prefer to work only on projects I deem worthy.” The Blacksmith explained. “When Balor told me about the miracle that happened, well, I had to rush over and see for myself.”
“I’m sorry, did you say miracle?” Sonya asked, pointing at her legs. “Nothing feels miraculous about this.”
The Blacksmith nodded and turned to Balor. “How much have you told her?”
“We’ve only discussed a little bit about what happened to her, not to her H.M.V.” Balor replied.
“What are you two talking about?”
“Sonya, allow me to assure you that the sacrifices you yourself along with your soldiers have made has not been in vain. Not even I can give you your legs back, but I think the gift that I can bestow upon you will allow us to turn the tide in this war.” The Blacksmith explained. “Hail, please grab the young lady a wheelchair. We’re moving this conversation to the hangar.”
In the hallway, Sonya spotted a young woman with white hair nod back to the Blacksmith. She was clearly well-armed. Sonya could only guess that she was a bodyguard of some sort.
“How was it?”
“It’s done. That’s enough.” The Blacksmith said. With a snap of his fingers, the space in front of him began to warp and spin. A portal quickly opened, allowing the Blacksmith and Hail instant access to their base of operations.
“Balor does not trust you.”
“War has made him wary. Justifiably so.” The Blacksmith said. “But under the circumstances he has had no choice but to acquire allies he never considered before. He will keep me around as long as I give him new weapons for use in the fight. Sonya’s H.M.V. will satisfy him for now.”
The two stepped through the portal, instantly teleporting away from Himalaya and back to the Blacksmith’s home planet. The two were standing in a laboratory that was underwater. Creatures of all shapes and sizes swam above them, while on the floor of the lab were various weapons the likes of which the rest of the galaxy could only imagine. The Blacksmith had in his arsenal weapons that could single-handedly alter the course of any war, but he alone decided who received his gifts. And he always kept the best tools for himself. Inside the lab were two more of his allies, the gigantic Khurr known as Surtr, and a young woman in the garb of the Optimists. Sloth yawned as the Blacksmith made his approach.
“Hey boss, I got something I need to tell you-”
With a snap of his fingers, The Blacksmith opened up a portal underneath Sloth that the Khurr instantly fell through. A second snap opened a portal above him. With nothing to stop his momentum, Sloth found himself hopelessly falling from one portal to the next. “I am very disappointed Sloth. I told you to either bring the Aechean to our side or slay him. Instead, I hear that he is still alive and looking to work against us!”
“Boss, please, have mercy!” Surtr screamed. “He ran away like a coward! I thought he would stand and fight!” All of the muscles in the world were useless as Sloth continued to fall. The Blacksmith ignored his pleas, however, as he turned to his allies.
“What we are attempting here pits us against every single army in the known galaxy. Do you have any idea what these kinds of mistakes can do to us? Achilles is one of the most powerful warriors in the galaxy. His very existence could destroy my plans!” The Blacksmith yelled. “With his power, the Reds and the Demons may actually have a fighting chance, and we can’t risk them accidentally destroying the Beyonder we seek!”
Another snap of his fingers, and the portal beneath Sloth closed. The massive Khurr landed with a huge thud that seemed to shake the floor. Even with the powers of the Forefathers flowing through his veins, he was still powerless before the Blacksmith. “I bestowed upon you gifts that made you some of the most powerful beings in the galaxy. There is no excuse for failure!”
“For what it’s worth boss, Achilles told me that he is retired. He does not want to fight anymore.” Sloth muttered as he slowly rose to his knees.
“I’d prefer if he was dead. But it will have to do.” Blacksmith said. “Pray that you are correct Sloth.”
“Excellent. You’ve done well Glorious.” The young woman beamed with pride at Blacksmith’s compliment. “Then let’s review our next steps, this time without mistakes. Because the apocalypse has come to the Mjolnir galaxy, and it is up to we, the Four Horsemen, to take control of it.”
-------------
Hello everyone! When I first started Rise, I designed the universe for use in rps. Unlike many more well-established settings, I wanted the universe of Rise to feel like something the players themselves could actively take part in building. Not only do you get to design the characters for the individual rps created by me and other talented dms, but players also get the chance to create the factions and planets that make up this world. After all, the universe is a big place, and it only makes sense for writers on the internet to try and fill our worlds with as much awesome stuff as possible. To describe Rise in the simplest terms, it is an anime-inspired rp featuring mechs driven by mercenaries from across the galaxy who come together to overcome impossible odds. Rise 7 in particular is intended to represent a new beginning for Rise itself, as the rp takes place several centuries after the previous rps. Character who were once synonymous with the series, such as Axel Erachin and Ray Shishigami are now the stuff of legend. It is time for a new generation of heroes to make their marks on the universe.
So, why the focus on the new generation? Well, Rise's universe is intended to be fairly easy for players to get into because they can pretty easily insert whatever crazy idea they had for a character into this world. Want to play as a pirate girl who transforms into a Wereshark? You can. Want to be a former Power Ranger addicted to drugs and alcohol? It's been done. Want to play as a heroic cowboy with a red panda on his shoulder? Hey, get your own ideas, we've already done that! After doing multiple trilogies, Rise became a tad more complicated as characters formed complex relationships with one another, and the barrier for entry got higher. As such, I'm hoping that some new players get to see why Rise has been so successful with a clean slate of sorts. With new factions, new characters, and a new threat to focus on, there are a lot of new things to see and do in the world of Rise.
Also I wanted to make a stupid rp in which a 14 year old girl takes on Kaiju in her giant robot. So there's that. Anyway, here are some basic rules about Rise that you should all be aware of.
For additional resources, please refer to the Rise Universe topic for general discussion about the universe at large, and a large timeline on the first page that will help those of you hungry for more knowledge. We also have a wiki! None of this knowledge is necessary, but for those of you who are curious it is worth checking out. It should be noted that given the length of time between Rise 6 and Rise 7, most of this info is outdated.
Once again, it should be remembered that these are simply the factions I will reference the most in this rp. You are welcome and encouraged to create your own, though my rps will focus mostly on the factions of my own creation.
The Demons
For the first time in humanity's existence in the Mjolnir galaxy, mankind was not the dominant species in the galaxy. Ever since mankind first evacuated Earth and took to the stars, they have managed to subjugate every species they came across due to their superior technology and weaponry (particularly the H.M.V., a human invention). However, humanity's time at the top was cut short by the Reds, a subspecies of Khurr that mankind always overlooked as a threat until it was too late. The Reds caught humanity by surprise, and soon their most powerful alliance, the Confederation, was destroyed after the Reds annihilated their home planet. The Reds were not concerned with taking their territory: the Reds sought nothing less than the expulsion or extinction of humanity within their galaxy. With the Reds pursuing them at every turn, humanity adopted a more nomadic lifestyle. They referred to the large fleets of ships they occupied as their home, and never settled down on any planet for too long.
Not all humans were satisfied, however, with simply running from the Reds. Those who chose to fight back knew that they would have to be as cruel and heartless as the Reds if they were to ever stand a chance fighting back. These men and women who cast aside their humanity to fight became Demons, the proud warriors of mankind. Resembling a biker gang more than an organized military force, the Demons wear dark masks into combat and wear jackets that signify their allegiance to the cause. The Demons knew that they could never take on the Reds in a fair fight. As such, the Demons utilize H.M.V.s known as the Crypt Lords which can transform from a walking H.M.V. to a bike that can quickly navigate busy city streets. Every demon proud enough to enter combat is prepared to do whatever it takes to protect humanity.
The Demons are run on a meritocracy, meaning that the only factor influencing whether or not one rises through the ranks is their prowess in combat. As such, despite her age, Sonya was able to lead a squad of her own because she was smarter and tougher than most of the veterans on her team. The leader of the demons earns the rank of Balor and dons a cowboy hat to signify that they are humanity's best hope of survival. The cowboy is a tribute to one of mankind's greatest heroes, Axel Erachin, and the actions he took to resolve the infamous King's War and bring mankind together as the first president of the Confederation.
The Reds
Caesar's Palace was Achilles's favorite spot on all of planet Vegas because the decor reminded him of home. While Achilles has lived in dozens of places over the last few centuries, nowhere ever filled the void that was left in his heart when he was forced to abandon his home planet as it was torn apart by civil war. The Aecheans fought for freedom from their creators. Despite originally being designed to serve as the mindless servants of the Forefathers, a race of supremely powerful aliens who viewed themselves as the universe's gods, the Aecheans eventually rid the galaxy of their oppressors at the cost of nearly going extinct themselves. From that point on, regardless of how many wonderful people he met, Achilles felt alone. That is, until he found Priscilla, an Immortal who was the love of his life. However, it turns out that their race's name was a misnomer, as once again Achilles found himself outliving the one he cared about.
And so tonight he drank to forget and, hopefully, when he wakes next he can start anew. The waiter serving him was shocked that the pint-sized man in armor could hold so much liquor, with his table covered in bottles, but still Achilles called for more. The warrior did not slur his words or stagger as he stood up. It would take a stronger drink than served on all of Vegas to get a demigod like himself off his feet. Thankfully, his life had left him with more than enough money for such endeavors. However, no matter how many drinks he bought, the Aechean was acutely aware of how other patrons in the bar were staring at him. As the last documented Aechean in the galaxy, Achilles was accustomed to standing out in a crowd, but he never enjoyed feeling like an outcast.
Standing at an intimidating two feet tall and with the physique of a beach ball, Achilles did not look like one of the galaxy's most powerful warriors, yet he was. A master swordsman, Achilles had taken on many apprentices over his life, some of whom were famous warriors in their own right.. However, despite the reputation of some of his apprentices, none of them ever surpassed their old master. Still, there was one in particular who Achilles always regretted having trained. Sloth, a black and white Khurr who was gifted with an exceedingly strong body even when compared to his own kind, was an apprentice that Achilles felt compelled to train because of his potential. Despite his strength, Sloth's weakness was always his own laziness, leaving him frustrated when his own lack of effort lead to his downfall time and time again. It had been years since Achilles had seen Sloth, and yet he was supposed to meet Achilles here today.
Caesar’s Palace
"Master! It is great to see you again." The man who called out to Achilles was a person who was both familiar and foreign. On one hand, the voice was still unmistakably that of his apprentice Sloth. But his body had changed. While Sloth had always been a strong man, his body muscles were typically covered by fat from his bad habit of overheating. Now, Sloth looked jacked, with arms as wide as Achilles's entire body. The ground seem to shake as he stepped into the room, and people instinctively gave the Khurr a wide berth. Despite his size, Sloth seemed surprised when he surveyed the vast area of bottles littered on Achilles's table. "I've never known you to be such a hard drinker, Master. Was it not you who told me that a proper warrior should never consume anything that dulls his mind?""There's an exception for every one of my teachings, and tonight is one of them. I am grieving over the loss of my wife." Achilles said, grabbing another glass from a waiter passing by and immediately downing the substance in one gulp. " Did you hear about the attacks near where Brimstone used to be? Apparently monsters came out of the black hole and their first target was Automation. Their home planet got hit the hardest. My wife was one of those lost during the attack..."
"Yes...I did hear about that,” Sloth said. Achilles was surprised. It was not like Sloth to keep up with current events as he used to view it as too much work. "They say that almost every soldier, warrior, and mercenary in the galaxy has been contacted to help fight them off. Guess that explains why a merc's paradise like Vegas is so empty." Achilles looked around and, while he had not noticed it before, there were far less people on Vegas than their normally were. As the favorite spot for all of the galaxy's mercenaries, Achilles guessed that with monsters appearing business had picked up quite a bit, though he doubted hiring sellswords would make any difference. "How about you, old man? You don't look like you've aged a day. Did anyone call you to take up your sword once again?"
"Being part Forefather is both a blessing and a curse. It keeps me young. Too young." Achilles said. "I have been out of contact with most people. I ignore anyone who calls me, except for my apprentices. Which brings me to you, Sloth. You've changed quite a bit."
"Yeah!" Sloth chuckled, pulling up a seat at Achilles's table, his muscles bulging with every movement. The lazy Khurr yawned immediately as he sat down. "I decided to apply myself after all these years, and you can't argue with the results."
"Well, I'm happy to hear that, and I'm happy to see you Sloth. Though, I doubt that you called me here just to check in on your old master." Achilles pushed his glass aside. "Why did you contact me?”
Sloth smirked. Despite his words, there was no respect in his eyes as he looked down at Achilles. He clearly did not share his master’s joy over their reunion. "Always so suspicious. But you're right, as usual. I have ulterior motives." Sloth leaned in. "I'm working with a guy who views these monster attacks as an opportunity. He thinks that, given time, he can learn to control them for his own purposes. They made short work of one of one of the most powerful races in the galaxy with the Immortals. Imagine what we could do if they followed our orders? We could remake the galaxy as we please."
"Sounds like your 'guy' is delusional." Achilles retorted.
"Perhaps. But after meeting him, I don't think so. The guy is a weapons developer and he has created things the likes of which I have never seen before. If anyone can pull it off, it’s him." Sloth said. "You're looking at the results of some of his work right now. Look at me!"
Around him, the room seemed to quickly empty of all its patrons and workers. Achilles should have suspected that it was a trap, but deep down, it may not have made a difference. Achilles was a warrior at heart and he would have simply been attracted to the danger. "So, this weapons developer doubles as a fitness instructor?"
"It's more than just that. He made me a little bit more like you Achilles." Sloth explained, a menacing glint in his eyes. "What you are looking at is what happens when you inject a Khurr like me with the blood of one of the Forefathers. He turned me into a demigod. Finally, I am your equal." Sloth stood up. "You know what always bothered me Achilles? You taught your apprentices everything, but try as they might they could never surpass you. Not with the blood of the gods running through your veins! Finally, the playing field has been leveled."
Achilles shook his head. "I shouldn't be surprised that, once again, you took the easy route to power Sloth."
"SHUT UP!" Sloth yelled, his fist crashing through the table and splintering it in two. Achilles rolled back, drawing his sword in one swift motion.
Sloth pointed at him. "Listen, I told my boss that with me around, he doesn't need you anymore. However, he's very insistent, and because of the gifts he gave me I can't refuse him. He wants you to join our side." Sloth veins began to glow a deep shade of orange, his body literally pulsing with power. "Heh, but looking at you, I can already tell what your answer is going to be.”
Achilles drew his blade, his answer clear enough. Sloth smirked. “I was hoping you would say no. If you’re not with us, then my boss gave me permission to do with you as I please. Finally I get to test this new body of mine out.”
Achilles rushed forward, whipping his blade towards Sloth with blinding speed and enough power to slice an H.M.V. in two. However, Achilles's blade was stopped in midair. It had been centuries since any of his opponents could actually parry one of his swings without having the bones in their arms shattered. "Sloth-"
"Sloth is no longer a fitting name for me. You can call me Surtr!"
Surtr's skin seemed to melt off of him, revealing a body that resembled a river of magma. With a slash of his claws, Surtr sent Achilles sprawling backward, his body crashing through the aquarium behind him. Still, Achilles never let go of his blade. Surtr slowly drew a blade of his own, a wicked looking broadsword with flames that danced along the steel. Surtr laughed as, for the first time in his life, he was able to stand above his master. "Really? This is all you can muster Achilles? Do not disappoint me, ‘Master.’ I have waited a long time for this day!" Surtr rushed forward, swinging his blade at Achilles overhead. The Aechean quickly rolled out of the way and unleashed a flurry of strikes at the new demigod, but Surtr's blade met him at every turn. It quickly dawned on Achilles that, for the first time, he was truly outmatched. His opponent was stronger, faster, and given the years Achilles had spent in retirement, more prepared for battle.
This was not a fight he would win.
"Everything you taught me was little more than an illusion. Now I have true power!" Surtr suddenly reached out with his free hand, picking up Achilles by his helmet as he knocked the sword from his grasp. Achilles knew that this was destiny, and really this was the death that he had always wanted. Death in combat. But, as he saw the fire in Surtr's eyes, he remembered how hard his heroes had always fought against monsters like these. Men such as Axel Erachin no longer walked in this universe, but he was brave without the power of the gods flowing through his veins. He may not win this battle, but Achilles would never give up.
Spinning, Achilles kicked Surtr hard enough in the head to send the Khurr staggering back, giving him just enough time to retrieve his blade. "That's more like it Master. C'mon. Give me everything you've got left!" Achilles roared, his sudden burst of power surprising even Surtr as the demigod found himself being pushed back by Achilles's many strikes. As the two matched blades, Achilles swiped his sword to left, managing to knock Surtr's grip loose on his own blade. His foe disarmed, Achilles prepared himself for the killing blow. But Surtr did not seem deterred in the slightest. As Achilles rushed forward, Surtr's body was consumed in a spiral of flames that seemed to shoot out of the ground like volcano. The flames engulfed Achilles in an instant with heat the likes of which he had never imagined.
Achilles screamed in agony as burns covered his body. Even with the natural resiliency of the Aechean people and the power of a demigod, Achilles knew that he could not survive long within these flames. Out of panic, Achilles thrust his sword into the floor beneath him. His one chance to escape Sloth was that the massive panda had overestimated the strength of the ground beneath him. With a satisfying crack, the floor beneath them sank inward. The Khurr turned to him, the look on his face shocked. "Coward!" Surtrscreamed. The Khurr fell to the next level of the casino, giving Achilles enough time to catch his breath. The fire alarms had been deactivated on the floor he was on in order to give Surtr the opportunity to slay him, but this was not the case on other levels as the casino. People screamed, alarms rang, and sprinklers doused the entire floor as Achilles sheathed his sword. He had no desire to continue his fight with Surtr in a crowded space. Besides, even if he did, Achilles doubted that he would survive. Surtr had been preparing for this fight for quite a long time, while Achilles had gotten out of practice.
In the past, Achilles would have never fled the battlefield. With a sigh, Achilles ran to the stairwell to make his exit. However, Surtr’s words ran through his head again and again. It was one of the rare times he had ever been called a coward, and Achilles could not say he was wrong.
-----------------
Planet Daredevil
"Spread out and aim for its legs! We need to knock this guy down!" Sonya yelled. Her Demons rode their H.M.V.s in their bike forms through the streets of Daredevil. Their orders were simple: to draw the monsters that had invaded their planet away from the ships the citizens of the planet were using to make their escape. Sonya just prayed that her soldiers’ efforts were not in vain. One of the monsters loomed above them, a massive creature with a long tail resembling a scorpion. The monster had dozens of eyes on the front of its shark-like head, and Sonya could only hope that their collective focus was centered elsewhere. "Remember the plan! We knock this thing on the ground, and then we fire everything we have into its skull!" On her signal, the bikes at the front of her pack fanned out, a long steel cable between them. Typically, the Demons used these cables to tie down H.M.V.s that were trying to escape. Now, they were using them as a tripwire to kill a monster as tall as the buildings surrounding them.
"Now!" She screamed. The bikes spun around the monstrosity's left leg, the tight cable digging into the monster's flesh. Finally, they had its attention. The monster turned downward and, with a kick of its leg, sent the two bikes spinning out of control. One flipped over, causing its driver to be crushed underneath. The other began to spin out, but the Demon riding it managed to steady the bike before it collided with the nearby buildings. In desperation, the Demons opened fire with the machine guns at the front of their bikes, but the bullets had little effect on the monster. Compared to the beast looming above them, they might as well be insects.
"This isn't working, Commander!" one of the Demons shouted to Sonya. "We don't have the firepower."
"None of us know how to defeat these things, Private. But unless you want to abandon your countrymen, we're going to keep trying!" Sonya shouted. Her squad rode their bikes between the behemoth's legs as it turned its attention back the escape vessels being loaded with civilians. The port was close by, and if any of these creatures managed to get close, Sonya doubted that any of the ships would be able to take off. "Get to higher ground! We need to grab this thing’s attention!"
"Sonya, are you out there?" A voice from someone not belonging to her crew came through on her communicator. She recognized it immediately as the Demon King himself, the leader of their entire military, Balor. "I see that your squad is engaged with the monster nearing our port. I've prepared a trap for the monster nearby. The coordinates should be forwarded to your map. If your team can lure the monster there, we can take it out."
"You got it. Did you hear that team? I need you to fire everything we've got at that monster so we can lure it towards Balor's trap!" Sonya ordered. All around her, the Demons transformed their bikes into H.M.V.s, allowing to make full use of their ample firepower. She knew that they alone could not destroy the monster, but hopefully they can force it to recognize them as a threat. A volley of machine gun salvos and missiles were sent straight at the monster's eyes, and when the dust settled, the behemoth was staring right at them.
Scorpion Beyonder
"Move!" Sonya yelled. Transforming back into bikes, the Demons ran down the street in the direction of the trap Balor had set. Behind them, the monster was lunging towards them, toppling buildings in its wake. The monster's tail, however, was the biggest threat, as it repeatedly shot towards them with uncanny speed. The tail eventually pierced its way through one of the Demons’ bikes, its pilot screaming as the monster dragged it up towards its mouth and chomped down on the bike. Despite being made of metal, the bike was torn to shreds in an instant. The pilot never stood a chance. "Eyes forward! We're almost there!" The Demons’ fanned out, struggling to dodge the debris the monster was creating as it chased them through the streets. "Good work!" Balor said. With the beast now stuck between two of Daredevil's tallest structures. Once it got close, explosions went off on both sides, causing the structures to collapse inward right onto the monster. Just as the towers touched the beast, another explosion went off. For the first time, Sonya heard the monster scream in pain as it was knocked to the street floor. From all around them, more of the Demons’ H.M.V.s made their way out to greet them as Sonya surveyed the damage. The beast's eyes were closed. "We'd best still be cautious. We have no idea whether or not it's truly dead."
"Aye aye sir!" Sonya said. "Well done team. Let's keep steering these monsters away-"
All of a sudden, gunshots rang out and a few of the Demons fell as someone opened fire upon them. Scanning the area, Sonya saw a swarm of H.M.V.s shooting at them from behind cover. However, something was not right about them. The H.M.V.s looked like nothing she had ever seen before. The majority of the bodies of the H.M.V.s were still metallic, but the rest was covered up by the same sort of skin that seemed to cover the monster resting before them. It was as though the H.M.V.s and monsters had been combined. With few options available to her, Sonya dove for cover. That was when things went from bad to worse, as the behemoth's tail shot out of the rubble and immediately shot towards her H.M.V. The monster's scorpion-like tail pierced her mech's abdomen right through the middle. For a second the tail stopped moving after impaling her H.M.V. like a shish kabob. Then, the tail pushed deeper until, finally, it found its mark and pierced her lower back. Sonya screamed in pain as her vision immediately began to fade. Somehow, these monsters knew enough to target the pilots of the H.M.V.s they were fighting against.
"Return fire! Backup is on the way! Don't let that beast drag Sonya away!" Balor screamed over the comm lines. His voice was the last thing Sonya remembered before passing out. Overhead, a red ship that Sonya was very familiar with flew towards them, raining artillery down at the monsters attacking her squad.
-------------
“I got here as soon as I could. How is she?” “She’s begun to stir. Given what she has experienced, we wanted to see how you wanted to explain everything that happened to her,.” the doctor said.
“Alright. Let our guest know as well. He will wish to speak with her.”
Balor sucked in a deep breath before opening the door to Sonya’s room. As a man who has single-handedly protected the Demons for all these years, there was not much that scared Balor anymore. However, the thought that he was going to be the one who has to break this kind of difficult news to one of his most prized captains made him hesitate as he stood in the doorway. When her father passed away, Balor promised him that he would keep an eye on his daughter. It turned out that her father’s fears were for naught as Sonya was an exceptional warrior who quickly rose through the ranks despite her age. She did not need protection from anyone. But now, sitting in a hospital bed, Balor came to realize how vulnerable she truly was.
“So, you’re awake. It’s good to see you Sonya,” Balor said.
“Balor, before you say anything else, tell me one thing.” Sonya crossed her arms. “That ship that I saw coming to rescue my squad. It wasn’t one of ours. Whose was it?”
“Sonya, we have more important things-”
“Who was it, Balor?” Sonya yelled. “I need to hear it from you.”
Balor considered pulling rank on her for yelling at a superior officer. But, he wanted to end this line of questioning sooner rather than later. They had much more to discuss, and time was short. “It was the Reds, Sonya. It was their flagship, the S.S. Terrance.”
“How dare you!” Sonya shouted. She grabbed a glass vase and threw it at Balor’s head. Her aim was true despite just waking up, and it was only Balor’s quick reflexes that saved from taking a hard blow to the head. “You had me rescued by our sworn enemy? Did you forget what those little monsters did to my father?”
“No, I did not!” Balor yelled back. He was failing to keep his cool. Balor coughed, clearing his throat, and then continued in a calmer voice. “You lost a father during that raid, and I lost my best friend. But, unfortunately, we needed back-up and the Reds have one of the strongest fleets in the galaxy outside of our own. So, yes, I put aside the grudge I have against them and decided to make a deal for the good of our people. With their help and their ships, we were able to evacuate more of Daredevil’s people than we ever would have on our own.”
Balor removed his sunglasses. “Trust me. I still haven’t forgotten the debt you and I owe the Reds. But compared to what we’re dealing with when it comes to the big monsters, the little ones don’t post as much of a threat anymore.”
“So, those beasts took Daredevil from us.” Sonya said, lying back down against her pillow. Balor was surprised by how short she looked. It had become easier over the years to forget that she was so young.
“Yes. And that’s not all they took. They hit Automation even harder than they hit us.” Balor explained. “By the time the Monitor called for aid, it was already too late. Their planet was ravaged. Their armies and fleets are scattered across the galaxy. Even the Monitor herself was forced to withdraw from her home planet.”
“These...monsters. We still don’t know how to classify them, where they came from, and what they’re after. However, it would be a mistake to simply assume that these are all mindless beasts.” Balor crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. “There are a lot of planets between here and Automation. Obviously they aren’t as well populated or militarized as Daredevil, but still, they exist. And yet, the monsters came straight for us after dealing with the Immortals. This attack was not just some burst of rage on their part, it was a coordinated assault on two of the galaxy’s military superpowers. And those smart little Reds were quick enough to figure out that, by process of elimination, they were next.”
“Anyway, there’s more things we need to talk about, Sonya. Could you get up and come with me?” Balor asked.
“Sure, just give me-” Sonya tried to use her legs, but try as she might, they would not move. They felt numb, like they were not even there. “What…?”
“It’s like they predicted then.” Balor said. “Sonya, that beast with the scorpion-like tail hit you and your H.M.V. right in the back. It pierced part of your spine. Even with the best doctors and all the cybernetics in the world, the nerve damage to your back is beyond repair. I’m...I’m sorry.”
Sonya’s face went pale. “So, I’ll never walk again.”
“Not with your legs at least. Dammit…” Balor grimaced. “I wanted to give you more time to recover after everything that happened. But unfortunately, we don’t have the time. I’m sorry kiddo. I wish it could have been me.”
“I...I can’t-” Sonya began to sob. It was the first time she had cried in years.
Time passed by slowly for both of them. Balor asked Sonya if she wanted to be alone, but she shook her head and allowed him to stay. They sat in relative silence once Sonya calmed herself down, and together they stared at the walls. There are certain emotions that there are no words for. Even their surprise visitor waited respectfully in the hallway until enough time passed for him to feel comfortable making his entrance.
“Greetings child.” A man in white armor walked into the room with a green cloak hanging behind him. He resembled a man in knight’s armor, like one of the Paladins Sonya had read about, but this man was clearly not of their order. In many ways, he resembled a robot, with his face covered entirely by metal. His voice was unnaturally deep. “I believe that it is time we met. You can call me the Blacksmith.”
The Blacksmith
“Sonya, allow me to introduce you to the man who I believe can swing this battle back in our favor.” Balor said. “He is the galaxy’s most renowned weapon’s manufacturer, but he swears no allegiance to any nation. A mercenary weapon’s dealer, shall we say.”“A crude way to put it, but accurate. A man of my talents could be used by any nation in the galaxy to either take over or destroy the entire galaxy. As such, I prefer to work only on projects I deem worthy.” The Blacksmith explained. “When Balor told me about the miracle that happened, well, I had to rush over and see for myself.”
“I’m sorry, did you say miracle?” Sonya asked, pointing at her legs. “Nothing feels miraculous about this.”
The Blacksmith nodded and turned to Balor. “How much have you told her?”
“We’ve only discussed a little bit about what happened to her, not to her H.M.V.” Balor replied.
“What are you two talking about?”
“Sonya, allow me to assure you that the sacrifices you yourself along with your soldiers have made has not been in vain. Not even I can give you your legs back, but I think the gift that I can bestow upon you will allow us to turn the tide in this war.” The Blacksmith explained. “Hail, please grab the young lady a wheelchair. We’re moving this conversation to the hangar.”
In the hallway, Sonya spotted a young woman with white hair nod back to the Blacksmith. She was clearly well-armed. Sonya could only guess that she was a bodyguard of some sort.
------------
Blacksmith soon exited the meeting. With the larger goals having been decided on, all that remained was to debate less important things, such as where the Demons will stay until their planet was reclaimed. With a sigh, the Blacksmith rubbed his forehead. It was a struggle to bring the two together, but if his plan was to work, then he could not allow the biggest military superpowers in the galaxy to be destroyed just yet. As he exited the palace, Hail was waiting for him. “You’re about to see something extraordinary.” The Blacksmith explained. The man in the white cloak lead the group, consisting of Sonya, Balor, and Hail down to the hangar of the battleship they were stationed on. From the window, Sonya could see the entire hangar below her, but for reasons that were beyond her comprehension...the hangar was almost completely empty. All except for the black H.M.V. standing at the center.
“Fascinating, isn’t it? That’s your H.M.V. down there, though you may not have guessed it given its appearance. I haven’t seen such a rare combination of steel and organic matter since the Reclaimers used the Scions as their personal tools of war.” Sonya’s H.M.V. was clearly no longer the same machine it once was. It stalked the hangar on its own without any pilot inside, and its movements were no longer as robotic as they once were. Instead, the H.M.V. seemed to be walking around like an animal, its movements like those of a calculated predator.
Its appearance had changed as well. In many ways, her H.M.V. now resembled the massive creatures that had invaded her home planet. Its head was now that of a dragon, complete with a set of razor sharp teeth. It even had a pair of wings on its back where it’s jets used to be. What had happened to her H.M.V. to turn it into something like this?
“We’ve had to evacuate everyone else in this facility and keep the entire hangar sealed. When they brought you aboard Sonya, we pulled you out of your H.M.V. and got you the medical attention you needed. But your H.M.V. looked normal at the time.” Balor explained. “Then, over time, it transformed into this. Our mechanics were so busy with all of our other damaged H.M.V.s that yours was put off to the side. They only noticed that something strange was going on when it started walking around on its own.”
“The wings are new though. It seems the H.M.V. has mutated even further during the time we spent in Sonya’s room. Not even I’m sure what to make of this,” the Blacksmith explained. “The other mutated H.M.V.s we’ve seen on the battlefield, however, did not resemble machines at all. It seems as though your H.M.V. was rescued at the perfect time for the process to only be half complete. Neither monster or machine, but somewhere in between. I believe this has the potential to be a powerful weapon in this war.”
“If we could get it under control. That thing has attacked my soldiers any anyone else who tries to approach it. Calling it aggressive would be a huge understatement.” Balor explained with a sigh. The commander of the Demons leaned back against the wall. “EMPs don’t even work on it given all the, what did you call it, ‘organic matter’ now built into the machine.”
Sonya, however, had fallen silent and instead pushed her wheelchair close to the window so she could see the H.M.V. as close as possible. Even from this distance, she felt compelled to get closer. It was as though the machine itself was calling out to her, drawing her closer.
“Well Balor, there is one exception to your thought process. The machine never once attacked the pilot inside,” The Blacksmith explained. “And she seems eager to be reunited.”
“What, Sonya?” Balor said, noticing how the soldier stared at the former H.M.V. “There is no way she can possibly go in there safely. Are you insane?”
“Possibly. Though given the circumstances, we all may very well be,” the Blacksmith said. With a snap of his fingers, Hail came to his side. “Thankfully, I have a comrade with me who I can assure you can get her to safety if my hypothesis proves to be incorrect. Hail may not look it, but she is certainly strong enough to carry Sonya to safety.”
“Are you now?” Balor said. Hail did not respond. The Blacksmith’s bodyguard had been completely silent ever since she arrived on board the vessel. Balor got the sense that she was more powerful than she appeared, but certainly not strong enough to protect a handicapped girl from a rogue H.M.V.
“Balor, I understand your doubts. If I were in your position I would be upset with me for even suggesting this sort of action,” the Blacksmith said.
“Upset is a huge understatement.”
“But under the circumstances I’d advise you to be a little less cautious.” The Blacksmith crossed his arms. “We do not know when these monsters will attack again, and inside your hangar is our best possibility of understanding our foes better. It is absolutely dangerous, but since our fleet could be assaulted at any second...we have no choice.”
“It’s okay. I want to go.” Sonya said. Balor was surprised by the determined expression on her face. Still, he shouldn’t have been surprised by her guts given her planet of origin. Balor pointed at Hail.
“If anything goes wrong, you promise me you’ll get her out of there?” Balor asked. Hail did not respond verbally, but she nodded her head. “Alright. I’ll have the blast doors ready to hold that monster off of if anything goes wrong, but you will have to get out of there quick. Go.”
Silently, Hail pushed Sonya’s chair into the hangar. At first, the H.M.V. did not even notice their presence, even as the door loudly opened so they could enter. Neither Hail nor Sonya showed any fear as they made their approach. Then, as her chair bumped into one of the toolboxes used by the mechanics who evacuated the hangar, the monster turned around. The monster itself stalked over, its eyes drawn directly to Sonya. It did not even seem to notice Hail, who tensed up behind the young soldier as the monster drew close.
Sonya was shaken up at first, especially by the loud noise the H.M.V. generated as it marched over. But now that it drew close, Sonya had the sense that she was not in danger. She did not understand what it was, but she had the feeling that her and this H.M.V. were connected somehow. If this H.M.V. were to harm her, than in some sense it would also be harming itself.
“Can you speak?”
Not in any tongue you can understand human. But we can communicate. Even though the monster’s mouth never opened, she could hear its loud voice in her head. She had heard of telepathy being used by the Hydra League’s Amazons, but she had never believed that she would be able to experience it herself. Do I have a name?
“Excuse me?”
I was once simply your weapon, was I not? Your H.M.V.? But now that I’ve awoken, I have no idea what to call myself. The monster said. It would make talking with my pilot much easier.
“I...I never called my H.M.V. anything special. But given your appearance…” Sonya whispered. “I shall call you Ryu.”
Then so it shall be. The monster nodded in response before turning its attention to Hail. Young one, I believe we should keep our conversation in our heads for now. I do not trust this one. Her scent is...unnerving.
Sonya had a hard time imagining the H.M.V. before her ever being “unnerved,” but given the Blacksmith’s confidence in her abilities, she should be more cautious. So, Sonya kept her thoughts in her head for now. “What are you? What is it you want?”
I am...unsure. You were not meant to survive the attack, and I was not supposed to still be part machine. My being here is an accident. The monster explained. The pilots do not typically survive the transformation process. I do not even hear the voice of my creator telling me what to do.
“You mean the scorpion like monster? With the tail?”
Yes. I am not sure what you mean by scorpion, but my creator is known for his tail. The monster said. The only reason I exist is to follow his instructions, yet our connection was severed when we were dislodged from his tail. Now, the only voice I can hear in my head is yours.
“Why me? What makes me so special? And who are those monsters that attacked us? What do they want?”
You have many questions I wish I could answer. But I was created solely to follow orders. And since you and I are anomalies...I do not know what to tell you, Ryu explained. But I do know one thing. You are my pilot.
Ryu opened its cockpit with a familiar hiss. Sonya turned back to Hail. “I’m going inside. Tell Balor to open the hatch. It’s time for a trial run.” Tendrils emerged from within the mutated H.M.V., wrapping themselves around her arms and hoisting the soldier into the cockpit so that she could enter without using her legs. She soon found herself sitting in her familiar cockpit chair, her controls all around her.
You will not need these anymore. Ryu said. Close your eyes. Sonya did as she was asked, and when she did she found herself looking down on Hail. She was seeing through the eyes of her H.M.V. She could only imagine how much Balor was panicking as he watched Sonya step into the H.M.V., but she never felt more safe or powerful. Even though she had lost her legs, when she merged her mind with Ryu, she felt as though she was in control.
I apologize for attacking some of the other humans. I was worried that you and I were captured. Being separated from you felt like being...incomplete.
“This is amazing! I’ve never felt anything like this!”
You haven’t seen anything yet. Look, they opened the hangar for you.
“Then let’s go!”
With a shout of joy, Sonya launched Ryu into the night sky, and as her wings flapped behind her Sonya felt as though she were experiencing the joy of flight for the first time.
“Fascinating, isn’t it? That’s your H.M.V. down there, though you may not have guessed it given its appearance. I haven’t seen such a rare combination of steel and organic matter since the Reclaimers used the Scions as their personal tools of war.” Sonya’s H.M.V. was clearly no longer the same machine it once was. It stalked the hangar on its own without any pilot inside, and its movements were no longer as robotic as they once were. Instead, the H.M.V. seemed to be walking around like an animal, its movements like those of a calculated predator.
Its appearance had changed as well. In many ways, her H.M.V. now resembled the massive creatures that had invaded her home planet. Its head was now that of a dragon, complete with a set of razor sharp teeth. It even had a pair of wings on its back where it’s jets used to be. What had happened to her H.M.V. to turn it into something like this?
“We’ve had to evacuate everyone else in this facility and keep the entire hangar sealed. When they brought you aboard Sonya, we pulled you out of your H.M.V. and got you the medical attention you needed. But your H.M.V. looked normal at the time.” Balor explained. “Then, over time, it transformed into this. Our mechanics were so busy with all of our other damaged H.M.V.s that yours was put off to the side. They only noticed that something strange was going on when it started walking around on its own.”
Sonya’s H.M.V.
“The wings are new though. It seems the H.M.V. has mutated even further during the time we spent in Sonya’s room. Not even I’m sure what to make of this,” the Blacksmith explained. “The other mutated H.M.V.s we’ve seen on the battlefield, however, did not resemble machines at all. It seems as though your H.M.V. was rescued at the perfect time for the process to only be half complete. Neither monster or machine, but somewhere in between. I believe this has the potential to be a powerful weapon in this war.”
“If we could get it under control. That thing has attacked my soldiers any anyone else who tries to approach it. Calling it aggressive would be a huge understatement.” Balor explained with a sigh. The commander of the Demons leaned back against the wall. “EMPs don’t even work on it given all the, what did you call it, ‘organic matter’ now built into the machine.”
Sonya, however, had fallen silent and instead pushed her wheelchair close to the window so she could see the H.M.V. as close as possible. Even from this distance, she felt compelled to get closer. It was as though the machine itself was calling out to her, drawing her closer.
“Well Balor, there is one exception to your thought process. The machine never once attacked the pilot inside,” The Blacksmith explained. “And she seems eager to be reunited.”
“What, Sonya?” Balor said, noticing how the soldier stared at the former H.M.V. “There is no way she can possibly go in there safely. Are you insane?”
“Possibly. Though given the circumstances, we all may very well be,” the Blacksmith said. With a snap of his fingers, Hail came to his side. “Thankfully, I have a comrade with me who I can assure you can get her to safety if my hypothesis proves to be incorrect. Hail may not look it, but she is certainly strong enough to carry Sonya to safety.”
“Are you now?” Balor said. Hail did not respond. The Blacksmith’s bodyguard had been completely silent ever since she arrived on board the vessel. Balor got the sense that she was more powerful than she appeared, but certainly not strong enough to protect a handicapped girl from a rogue H.M.V.
“Balor, I understand your doubts. If I were in your position I would be upset with me for even suggesting this sort of action,” the Blacksmith said.
“Upset is a huge understatement.”
“But under the circumstances I’d advise you to be a little less cautious.” The Blacksmith crossed his arms. “We do not know when these monsters will attack again, and inside your hangar is our best possibility of understanding our foes better. It is absolutely dangerous, but since our fleet could be assaulted at any second...we have no choice.”
“It’s okay. I want to go.” Sonya said. Balor was surprised by the determined expression on her face. Still, he shouldn’t have been surprised by her guts given her planet of origin. Balor pointed at Hail.
“If anything goes wrong, you promise me you’ll get her out of there?” Balor asked. Hail did not respond verbally, but she nodded her head. “Alright. I’ll have the blast doors ready to hold that monster off of if anything goes wrong, but you will have to get out of there quick. Go.”
Silently, Hail pushed Sonya’s chair into the hangar. At first, the H.M.V. did not even notice their presence, even as the door loudly opened so they could enter. Neither Hail nor Sonya showed any fear as they made their approach. Then, as her chair bumped into one of the toolboxes used by the mechanics who evacuated the hangar, the monster turned around. The monster itself stalked over, its eyes drawn directly to Sonya. It did not even seem to notice Hail, who tensed up behind the young soldier as the monster drew close.
Sonya was shaken up at first, especially by the loud noise the H.M.V. generated as it marched over. But now that it drew close, Sonya had the sense that she was not in danger. She did not understand what it was, but she had the feeling that her and this H.M.V. were connected somehow. If this H.M.V. were to harm her, than in some sense it would also be harming itself.
“Can you speak?”
Not in any tongue you can understand human. But we can communicate. Even though the monster’s mouth never opened, she could hear its loud voice in her head. She had heard of telepathy being used by the Hydra League’s Amazons, but she had never believed that she would be able to experience it herself. Do I have a name?
“Excuse me?”
I was once simply your weapon, was I not? Your H.M.V.? But now that I’ve awoken, I have no idea what to call myself. The monster said. It would make talking with my pilot much easier.
“I...I never called my H.M.V. anything special. But given your appearance…” Sonya whispered. “I shall call you Ryu.”
Then so it shall be. The monster nodded in response before turning its attention to Hail. Young one, I believe we should keep our conversation in our heads for now. I do not trust this one. Her scent is...unnerving.
Sonya had a hard time imagining the H.M.V. before her ever being “unnerved,” but given the Blacksmith’s confidence in her abilities, she should be more cautious. So, Sonya kept her thoughts in her head for now. “What are you? What is it you want?”
I am...unsure. You were not meant to survive the attack, and I was not supposed to still be part machine. My being here is an accident. The monster explained. The pilots do not typically survive the transformation process. I do not even hear the voice of my creator telling me what to do.
“You mean the scorpion like monster? With the tail?”
Yes. I am not sure what you mean by scorpion, but my creator is known for his tail. The monster said. The only reason I exist is to follow his instructions, yet our connection was severed when we were dislodged from his tail. Now, the only voice I can hear in my head is yours.
“Why me? What makes me so special? And who are those monsters that attacked us? What do they want?”
You have many questions I wish I could answer. But I was created solely to follow orders. And since you and I are anomalies...I do not know what to tell you, Ryu explained. But I do know one thing. You are my pilot.
Ryu opened its cockpit with a familiar hiss. Sonya turned back to Hail. “I’m going inside. Tell Balor to open the hatch. It’s time for a trial run.” Tendrils emerged from within the mutated H.M.V., wrapping themselves around her arms and hoisting the soldier into the cockpit so that she could enter without using her legs. She soon found herself sitting in her familiar cockpit chair, her controls all around her.
You will not need these anymore. Ryu said. Close your eyes. Sonya did as she was asked, and when she did she found herself looking down on Hail. She was seeing through the eyes of her H.M.V. She could only imagine how much Balor was panicking as he watched Sonya step into the H.M.V., but she never felt more safe or powerful. Even though she had lost her legs, when she merged her mind with Ryu, she felt as though she was in control.
I apologize for attacking some of the other humans. I was worried that you and I were captured. Being separated from you felt like being...incomplete.
“This is amazing! I’ve never felt anything like this!”
You haven’t seen anything yet. Look, they opened the hangar for you.
“Then let’s go!”
With a shout of joy, Sonya launched Ryu into the night sky, and as her wings flapped behind her Sonya felt as though she were experiencing the joy of flight for the first time.
-----------------
"I still can't believe it's come to this." Balor whispered. As his fleet landed on the Reds' home planet of Himalaya, Balor was surprised by how quaint the home of his arch enemies appeared on the surface. In combat, the Reds were incredibly aggressive foes, willing to go to any extreme in order to assure victory. It was easy to forget that, prior to the war between mankind and the Reds, they were regarded as the most peaceful people in the entire galaxy. The Reds were particularly stubborn about their use of technology. In their mind, technology was a corrupting force that was necessary for war, but should not interfere with the everyday lives of their people. The homes of the Reds were simple looking and made of wood; Balor doubted that many of these homes even had a computer. Stepping onto Himalaya felt as though he was stepping back in time.
Even though the fleets from the now evacuated planet Daredevil were escorted by ships from the Red fleet, he found that their arrival had quickly gathered a crowd. The Reds themselves earned their name due to their resemblance to Red Pandas, though in reality they were simply a subspecies of the Khurr race, but in a much smaller package. It seemed as though the entire race was tired of being looked down at as, without warning, the Reds began assaulting human planets. Unfortunately for mankind, the Reds were far more aggressive than they ever could have imagined, doing whatever was necessary to capture human planets for their own use. They were not afraid to poison water supplies, bomb hospitals, and execute prisoners if it means earning victory. Mentally, Balor reminded himself that no matter how cute they seemed on the surface, the Reds were not enemies to be taken lightly.
"Sir!" One of the Demons yelled. "A representative from the Reds has come to meet with us."
"Send him in."
The Demon opened the door and a heavily armed Red soldier appeared. Based on how many cybernetics he was sporting, from metal limbs to artificial eyes, Balor instantly recognized that he was one of the elites of the Reds military. In order to show their devotion to the cause, Red soldiers willingly dissected their bodies in order to strengthen them through technology. In order to fight for their people, the Reds were willing to sacrifice whatever was necessary. Deep down, Balor always guessed that the Reds secretly hated their bodies for forcing them to look up to the rest of the galaxy. When the Red soldier spoke, his voice resembled that of a robot, and it was heavily muffled by the gas mask he was wearing on his face. Even though the Red only stood at about half of Balor's height, Balor never let his guard down.
"I've come to escort you to meet with one of our leaders," the Red explained.
"Who will I be meeting with?" Balor asked.
"That I will not reveal. Regardless, you should consider it to be an honor to be one of the few humans to ever lay eyes on one of our palaces," the Red said. "And you are to come alone."
"And can you guarantee my safety?"
The Red soldier chuckled. "If things were going my way, we would have shot your entire fleet out of the sky when we had the chance. The fact that you are still alive should answer that question for you." The Red beckoned him to follow. "My orders right now are to ensure that you reach the palace safely. Depending on what happens during your meeting, however, my orders may change. Just remember Demon...you were the ones who called us. You are at our mercy."
Red Soldier
The Red Soldier lead him out into the crowd. Unlike the soldier, the Reds gathered outside did not have any cybernetics, and they were dressed in simple clothes. The men wore robes, while the women wore kimonos. The crowd themselves seemed to be incredibly curious as to the identity of their human guest, and a few even shouted threats towards him once they realized that he was a Demon. The Reds and the Demons had been at war for so long, it was only natural that some of the people would want to take out their anger on him. Once they saw the Red cyborg escorting him, however, the crowd gave him a wider berth and Balor was brought towards the palace without incident.
The Palace itself was awe-inspiring. As home to part of the royal family, the entire palace was kept in immaculate condition. The Reds regarded their monarchs with religious devotion, meaning that even a single flaw in the building was an insult to both their leaders and their entire way of life. Once inside the palace, Balor found his eyes being naturally drawn to the incredibly detailed murals on the wall depicting the history of the people who called this planet home. It depicted the Reds being enslaved by particularly villainous looking humans, with one Red in chains being whipped by their leader. The next mural, however, depicted a cowboy who had come to save them. Unlike most depictions of Axel Erachin, however, this was not at all favorable. Axel himself had a devilish grin on his face. The red panda sitting on his shoulder, however, seemed to shine in the painting. In the eyes of the Reds, Axel Erachin was a false savior, and they instead regarded Terrance, his faithful companion, as their true savior. The rest of the pictures depicted the Reds rising up and attacking human settlements, particularly the Confederation, eventually causing its collapse. The people who once called the Confederation home eventually adopted a nomadic way of life and to strike back at their aggressors, they became Demons.
"In here." The soldier ordered as he opened a door. "Bow. You stand in the presence of Princess Asuka of the Reds." Balor did not bow, but instead looked the figure sitting on the throne straight in the eye. Princess Asuka wore blow robes with her hair tied back behind her head. Her throne was deliberately put high off the ground, so that she could look down at her visitors regardless of how tall they were. Balor could tell from the intensity in her eyes that Asuka was as dangerous, if note more so, than the cyborg who had escorted him here. At his refusal to bow, the soldier became enraged and armed his gun, but the Princess waved him off.
"Stand down soldier. It's alright." The Princess said. "Proper manners has always been lost upon the vile humans."
"You know me as Balor, the Demon King," Balor said. "In my eyes, that puts us on equal footing. I will show respect, but I will not bow."
"Equals? Tell me human, who was it that called for aid when their planet was invaded?" The Princess said arrogantly. "While Daredevil was destroyed, who was it that called for help from his sworn enemy in order to save his people? I would say that gives us the edge."
"And unless you want the same to happen to your planet, you'll put aside whatever grudges you hold against one another so that we can negotiate." It was the Blacksmith who spoke. Evidently, the weapon's developer had been invited to this meeting as well.
Balor was surprised by his presence. "You did not tell me that you would be here."
"I may have helped you with that H.M.V. of yours, but I don't answer to you Balor. I go where I please." The Blacksmith explained. "Given the progress we've made thus far, I'm happy that I showed up. It seems that a neutral party is necessary to keep the children in line."
"Such insolence!" the Princess shouted. "I am the one who called this meeting to order in the first place, and I will not allow one of my guests to refer to me as a mere child. I'll have you know Blacksmith that my people have been at war with the Demons for decades-"
"Centuries actually, but at this point it doesn't matter. You saw what those monsters did to Planet Daredevil, Princess. You can tout your army's superiority all you want, but you know just as well as I do that your entire fleet doesn't give a chance against them. Not alone." The Blacksmith said. "Even with the aid of the Demons, your chances are still incredibly slim. It is only a matter of time until those monsters make their way here."
"Perhaps those monsters simply hate humans as much as we do," the Princess said sarcastically. "We can't predict what their next movements will be."
"Well, that's not entirely true..."
A new voice suddenly greeted them. Heavy footsteps were heard outside as a purple Immortal was escorted into the palace. Despite his size, the Immortal seemed shy as he entered the room holding the other organic beings. Unfortunately for the Immortal, he was forced to duck his head in order to avoid damaging the ceiling. The Princess stared up at the Immortal with a mixture of awe and jealousy. "Ah, yes, that was rude of me. I should introduce myself before speaking." The purple Immortal bowed his head. "Falstaff reporting. Chief scientist of the Immortals. And I can confirm that the Beyonders will most likely strike Himalaya next."
"Beyonders?" Balor asked.
"Well, it's what we've been calling the creatures. Monsters is such a generic term." Falstaff explained. "These monsters came from beyond a black hole, so Beyonders just seemed to fit. Of course, I am open to any suggestions for names."
"Beyonders will do." Blacksmith said with nod.
"Well great. We've agreed on what to call them. This meeting is going swell!" The Immortal's social awkwardness was obvious. If he was organic, he would be sweating profusely in the presence of so many people and eyes staring at him. "Is it hot in here or is it just me?"
"You don't feel heat, you lucky and tall machine." Asuka said. "We were expecting the Monitor herself to make an appearance."
"Yes, well, you see the Monitor is very important to my people. Without her, we'd lose everything that binds my people together." Falstaff said. "It's not that we don't trust you guys, but it was a necessary precaution. Besides, given the current circumstances, I deserve to be thought of as expendable." Despite his lack of lungs, the Immortal took in a deep breath. "Rest assured, however, that the Monitor speaks through me. I came here to share whatever knowledge my people have about the Beyonders."
"So they even attacked the Immortals?" Balor asked.
"Absolutely. That would be because...we discovered them." Falstaff explained. "We are all familiar with the Mikalovich Warhead correct? Of course you are, two military commanders and a weapon's developer. Stupid question on my part, sorry." The Immortal took in yet another deep breath to calm himself. "Anyway, Mikalovich herself designed the warhead to generate black holes during the King's War. Use of the warhead was the Empire's ultimate solution to dealing with Planet Brimstone during their way with the Hydra League. However, no species had ever investigated inside one of these black holes. When my team did, however, the Beyonders followed us back."
"So you are to blame for all of this?" Balor yelled. "Do you have any idea how many people I've lost because of your...your curiosity?"
"Do not blame the scientist Balor. It was only a matter of time before someone ventured into one of the black holes. The Immortals were just unfortunate enough to be the first people to do so." The Blacksmith said. "How they got here changes little."
"Yes, well, I am terribly sorry about what happened Balor. It was not something we ever predicted." Falstaff said. "They came for Automation first, forcing my people, just like yours to retreat from our home world. Then they targeted Daredevil. It would be a mistake, however, to assume that the attacks from the Beyonders are all random. They recognized our two planets as a threat, and after seeing one of your ships in the last battle Princess, they will likely prioritize the Reds next."
"So saving you brings these creatures to our home planet?" The Princess yelled. "You’ve doomed us all human! I should have never-"
"Silence!" The Blacksmith yelled. "Once again we are wasting time!"
"The Blacksmith is right." Balor said. "I want to propose a temporary truce between our people Asuka so that we can fight together against the Beyonder threat. This war is not over between our people, but we have to look past that...for now."
"I suppose I have no choice." The Princess said. "The Reds will fight alongside mankind."
"Which brings us to our next concern. Counterattacking." Falstaff said. "I recently received a message from an old friend that might just give us a fighting chance. Are you all familiar with Achilles?" Everyone in the room nodded. The swordsman's name was legendary. "During the King's War, the Paladins were always outnumbered against the Empire. However, they had one advantage: a gigantic H.M.V. called the Jotun. This H.M.V. was so large that it even rivaled that of the Beyonders. As former leader of the Paladins, Achilles sent me the schematics. I believe that, if I am bought a little time, I can create a machine of that size that can lead the charge for us."
"Time is not something we have a lot of. But I can't deny that larger H.M.V.s may be one of our better options." Balor said. "If we are to counterattack, then Daredevil should be our target. It's closer than Automation if we could recover the rest of the weapons we left behind, this war should be much easier."
"Better yet, the humans could and their stink could leave our planet for good. However, you assume that this war will be on one front." Asuka said. "The Beyonders do not stay together. After all, they attacked Automation and Daredevil almost simultaneously. Furthermore, I have reports coming in that the Optimists have taken advantage of the situation by attacking colonies are fleets have been forced to retreat from."
"Ugh, not them too." Balor muttered. "Leave it to the Optimists to kick us while we're down."
"Then what this leads me to believe is that we can't dedicate our entire fleets to reclaiming Daredevil." Falstaff explained. "It will have to be an elite squad. Small enough to not cut into our numbers, but powerful enough to reclaim a planet already taken over by the Beyonders."
"I think I have one young lady in mind for such a mission..." Balor said. "Given the size of our prey, we'll call this team the Giant Slayers. With a giant H.M.V. on our side, we just might have a chance of pulling it off."
"But who will lead such a mission?" Asuka said.
"Its obvious that you two would never agree on either a human or a Red to lead this mission. You need a neutral third party." The Blacksmith said. "I nominate Falstaff. His technological and leadership skills should be invaluable. Plus, he has no interest in whatever conflicts once existed between you."
"Me? I'm just a scientist!" Falstaff objected.
"A scientist who lead fleets. Besides, you have all the knowledge of the Monitor at your disposal. You are clearly the best choice." Both Asuka and Balor nodded at the Blacksmith's suggestion. Falstaff himself could not believe it. The stakes have never been higher, but perhaps this was his one real shot at redemption. Falstaff had actually hoped that Achilles would be able to return for such a mission, but the old warrior had made it clear in his message that it was time for a new generation to save the galaxy. There were no more heroes of the past they could rely on.
"Fine. I'll do it."
-------------“How was it?”
“It’s done. That’s enough.” The Blacksmith said. With a snap of his fingers, the space in front of him began to warp and spin. A portal quickly opened, allowing the Blacksmith and Hail instant access to their base of operations.
“Balor does not trust you.”
“War has made him wary. Justifiably so.” The Blacksmith said. “But under the circumstances he has had no choice but to acquire allies he never considered before. He will keep me around as long as I give him new weapons for use in the fight. Sonya’s H.M.V. will satisfy him for now.”
The two stepped through the portal, instantly teleporting away from Himalaya and back to the Blacksmith’s home planet. The two were standing in a laboratory that was underwater. Creatures of all shapes and sizes swam above them, while on the floor of the lab were various weapons the likes of which the rest of the galaxy could only imagine. The Blacksmith had in his arsenal weapons that could single-handedly alter the course of any war, but he alone decided who received his gifts. And he always kept the best tools for himself. Inside the lab were two more of his allies, the gigantic Khurr known as Surtr, and a young woman in the garb of the Optimists. Sloth yawned as the Blacksmith made his approach.
“Hey boss, I got something I need to tell you-”
With a snap of his fingers, The Blacksmith opened up a portal underneath Sloth that the Khurr instantly fell through. A second snap opened a portal above him. With nothing to stop his momentum, Sloth found himself hopelessly falling from one portal to the next. “I am very disappointed Sloth. I told you to either bring the Aechean to our side or slay him. Instead, I hear that he is still alive and looking to work against us!”
“Boss, please, have mercy!” Surtr screamed. “He ran away like a coward! I thought he would stand and fight!” All of the muscles in the world were useless as Sloth continued to fall. The Blacksmith ignored his pleas, however, as he turned to his allies.
“What we are attempting here pits us against every single army in the known galaxy. Do you have any idea what these kinds of mistakes can do to us? Achilles is one of the most powerful warriors in the galaxy. His very existence could destroy my plans!” The Blacksmith yelled. “With his power, the Reds and the Demons may actually have a fighting chance, and we can’t risk them accidentally destroying the Beyonder we seek!”
Another snap of his fingers, and the portal beneath Sloth closed. The massive Khurr landed with a huge thud that seemed to shake the floor. Even with the powers of the Forefathers flowing through his veins, he was still powerless before the Blacksmith. “I bestowed upon you gifts that made you some of the most powerful beings in the galaxy. There is no excuse for failure!”
“For what it’s worth boss, Achilles told me that he is retired. He does not want to fight anymore.” Sloth muttered as he slowly rose to his knees.
“I’d prefer if he was dead. But it will have to do.” Blacksmith said. “Pray that you are correct Sloth.”
Glorious
“Thankfully only Sloth has failed in his task. My takeover of the Optimists, meanwhile, was in a word...Glorious.” The woman removed her gas mask to reveal the face of one of the galaxy’s most notorious thieves, Gloria Gwenevere Gunther the 3rd, or “Glorious” for short. “The psychopaths have accepted me among their ranks and have even accepted my leadership. Not that the latter was too difficult really, provided I keep giving them fresh targets. Rest assured that the Demons and the Reds will have their fair share to worry about in addition to the Beyonders.”“Excellent. You’ve done well Glorious.” The young woman beamed with pride at Blacksmith’s compliment. “Then let’s review our next steps, this time without mistakes. Because the apocalypse has come to the Mjolnir galaxy, and it is up to we, the Four Horsemen, to take control of it.”
-------------
Welcome to Rise 7: The Beyonders
Hello everyone! When I first started Rise, I designed the universe for use in rps. Unlike many more well-established settings, I wanted the universe of Rise to feel like something the players themselves could actively take part in building. Not only do you get to design the characters for the individual rps created by me and other talented dms, but players also get the chance to create the factions and planets that make up this world. After all, the universe is a big place, and it only makes sense for writers on the internet to try and fill our worlds with as much awesome stuff as possible. To describe Rise in the simplest terms, it is an anime-inspired rp featuring mechs driven by mercenaries from across the galaxy who come together to overcome impossible odds. Rise 7 in particular is intended to represent a new beginning for Rise itself, as the rp takes place several centuries after the previous rps. Character who were once synonymous with the series, such as Axel Erachin and Ray Shishigami are now the stuff of legend. It is time for a new generation of heroes to make their marks on the universe.
So, why the focus on the new generation? Well, Rise's universe is intended to be fairly easy for players to get into because they can pretty easily insert whatever crazy idea they had for a character into this world. Want to play as a pirate girl who transforms into a Wereshark? You can. Want to be a former Power Ranger addicted to drugs and alcohol? It's been done. Want to play as a heroic cowboy with a red panda on his shoulder? Hey, get your own ideas, we've already done that! After doing multiple trilogies, Rise became a tad more complicated as characters formed complex relationships with one another, and the barrier for entry got higher. As such, I'm hoping that some new players get to see why Rise has been so successful with a clean slate of sorts. With new factions, new characters, and a new threat to focus on, there are a lot of new things to see and do in the world of Rise.
Also I wanted to make a stupid rp in which a 14 year old girl takes on Kaiju in her giant robot. So there's that. Anyway, here are some basic rules about Rise that you should all be aware of.
- Rise is a character driven rp. That means that, before anything else, the focus is on developing characters in a meaningful way. As such, interacting with other characters is essential, so make a character who is fun to just walk around as. I would strongly recommend checking out Ryoma's guide to character creation if you need some help. In particular, I think that it is important if you can hear your character's voice in your head (we're all mad here). Give it a shot!
- Don't worry about science. If it's awesome, then it works! And if anyone asks me a stupid question like "how do they ride into a black hole," well, have you ever been in one? There are many sci-fi worlds where writers do a ton of research to make their settings believable and scientifically plausible. Rise is not one of them.
- One of the unique things about Rise is that I allow other people to actively expand on the existing universe. As such, if you have some cool idea for a faction involved in your character's backstory, feel free to use it. Chances are that most of the things you create will not be addressed in my own projects (that would be crazy) but you can use them in your own creations. That being said, be courteous to other players. If you are creating a new faction, for instance, you should not include in said faction's backstory that they defeated another faction unless the creator of said faction gave you permission.
- Rise is big, but not all of it is essential knowledge. If you ever feel overwhelmed, just remember, I will tell you everything you need to know.
- I work hard on Rise. Writing dm posts takes a lot of time. I would appreciate you reading them thoroughly. My plot might not be perfect (the reaction to Rise 6 proved that), and I will not be able to take as much time polishing my posts as I would like, but I seriously encourage you to read them all. Also, ask questions if you are unsure of something! I take feedback seriously.
- Rise is a very active rp. If you don't want to take the time to keep up, you will likely be overwhelmed. People have been known to write up very long posts frequently. Be warned.
- Battles are based around logic. If your character is behaving smartly, then they are fine. Do something stupid or fail to respond to a situation properly, and prepare for punishment. For the most part, in fights, you can kill / destroy whoever you want, provided they aren't named characters
- Wrestling gifs are both welcome and encouraged because I'm a mark.
For additional resources, please refer to the Rise Universe topic for general discussion about the universe at large, and a large timeline on the first page that will help those of you hungry for more knowledge. We also have a wiki! None of this knowledge is necessary, but for those of you who are curious it is worth checking out. It should be noted that given the length of time between Rise 6 and Rise 7, most of this info is outdated.
Factions
Once again, it should be remembered that these are simply the factions I will reference the most in this rp. You are welcome and encouraged to create your own, though my rps will focus mostly on the factions of my own creation.
The Demons
For the first time in humanity's existence in the Mjolnir galaxy, mankind was not the dominant species in the galaxy. Ever since mankind first evacuated Earth and took to the stars, they have managed to subjugate every species they came across due to their superior technology and weaponry (particularly the H.M.V., a human invention). However, humanity's time at the top was cut short by the Reds, a subspecies of Khurr that mankind always overlooked as a threat until it was too late. The Reds caught humanity by surprise, and soon their most powerful alliance, the Confederation, was destroyed after the Reds annihilated their home planet. The Reds were not concerned with taking their territory: the Reds sought nothing less than the expulsion or extinction of humanity within their galaxy. With the Reds pursuing them at every turn, humanity adopted a more nomadic lifestyle. They referred to the large fleets of ships they occupied as their home, and never settled down on any planet for too long.
Not all humans were satisfied, however, with simply running from the Reds. Those who chose to fight back knew that they would have to be as cruel and heartless as the Reds if they were to ever stand a chance fighting back. These men and women who cast aside their humanity to fight became Demons, the proud warriors of mankind. Resembling a biker gang more than an organized military force, the Demons wear dark masks into combat and wear jackets that signify their allegiance to the cause. The Demons knew that they could never take on the Reds in a fair fight. As such, the Demons utilize H.M.V.s known as the Crypt Lords which can transform from a walking H.M.V. to a bike that can quickly navigate busy city streets. Every demon proud enough to enter combat is prepared to do whatever it takes to protect humanity.
The Demons are run on a meritocracy, meaning that the only factor influencing whether or not one rises through the ranks is their prowess in combat. As such, despite her age, Sonya was able to lead a squad of her own because she was smarter and tougher than most of the veterans on her team. The leader of the demons earns the rank of Balor and dons a cowboy hat to signify that they are humanity's best hope of survival. The cowboy is a tribute to one of mankind's greatest heroes, Axel Erachin, and the actions he took to resolve the infamous King's War and bring mankind together as the first president of the Confederation.
The Reds
It should always be remembered that mankind are immigrants to the Mjolnir galaxy. Before them, the galaxy was ruled by many alien species that viewed themselves as virtually untouchable until mankind came along and waged war with walking machines known as H.M.V.s. The Reds, however, were never a species that was viewed as a threat. Known for their short stature, fluffy tails, and resemblance to the red pandas found on Earth, the Reds possessed neither the technology or the innate strength necessary to hold off humanity. The Reds were subjugated for years by mankind's Empire, forcing them to mine their planet for many of the precious metals necessary to construct H.M.V.s.
The Reds were instrumental in the war effort to destroy the Empire. Were it not for the Red’s easy access to the materials necessary to build H.M.V.s, the rebel group known as the Paladins would never have been able to compete with the Empire's superior firepower. But their efforts were for naught because, as soon as the Empire collapsed, the Confederation was created to take its place. Despite being lead originally by the legendary hero Axel Erachin, the Reds saw the Confederation as the second coming of the Empire which would once again ensure that humanity dominated a galaxy in which they did not belong. The Confederation underestimated the Reds, and they never imagined that the galaxy's cutest alien species would be the gravest threat they ever faced. The Reds struck ruthlessly, doing whatever is necessary to ensure victory. They bombarded defenseless human settlements, poisoned food and water supplies, and created H.M.V.s that could overpower even those used by humanity. The devotion of the Reds to their cause is evidenced by their elite soldiers who willingly dissect their own bodies in order to make themselves more powerful through the use of cybernetics.
While the Reds use all sorts of technology in combat, the Reds also desire to return to the lifestyles they possessed before mankind originally introduced the miracle of space-flight to them. Outside of their soldiers, most Reds live humble and simple lives on their home planet of Himalaya farming crops and raising cattle. Stepping into planet Himalaya feels like stepping back in time to when many of the modern advances of technology never existed. The monarchy who rule the Reds are determined to ensure that this way of life is preserved without any further interruption by rival alien species.
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The Optimists
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The first riots were disastrous. Thousands of users addicted to the drug called Bliss began behaving erratically, committing heinous crimes with a smile plastered on their face all the while. After all, if happiness is the goal of every living being, than everyone should simply do whatever makes them feel good regardless of the consequences right? That was that the users of Bliss believed as they went on a huge crime spree, killing and stealing from whoever they wished. The Demons who fended off the attacks from the Optimists always remarked that the users never stopped smiling, even when they were shot. The worse part was that Bliss had been used to treat many soldiers suffering from the after-effects of war. Not only were these Optimists dangerous, but many were well-trained enough to prove a potent threat to even law enforcement.
Naturally, Bliss was discontinued, but its first users were so desperate to keep the drug alive that many began manufacturing their own. Many of the local incidents the Demons are forced to deal with in their cities still revolved around fanatics who managed to get their hands on the magical pill that drew them altogether. Despite not being an organized military force, someone has begun to supply the Optimists with weapons. Furthermore, their attacks have become more focused, almost as though someone new is leading them from behind the scenes to attack certain targets. Regardless, many bands of Optimists have taken the opportunity afforded them by the arrival of the Beyonders to raid planets that have been left defenseless by the monsters.
The Immortals
The Immortals first entered the galaxy during the King's War. Whereas the majority of the galaxy viewed H.M.V.s as simply weapons to be used in war, their original creator Decel Erachin saw something more in the giant machines. The legendary inventor granted his H.M.V.s artificial intelligence, allowing them to reason and feel emotions much like any other organic being. Decel wanted the Immortals to learn more about humanity and decide for themselves whether or not mankind was worth saving from themselves after all the atrocities they had committed. Despite all of the bad things they have seen, Guildenstern, the original Immortal, decided that there was still hope for humanity. After the Immortals helped to bring a resolution to the King's War, they colonized their own home planet, Automation, and began to explore the stars.
The Immortals are both gifted and cursed with a seemingly endless curiosity about the universe. As such, every Immortals is tasked upon their creation to explore the galaxy and find something new. This could mean journeying to an uncharted portion of space or studying a recently discovered life form. All of this knowledge is stored in the Monitor, a hive mind created by the Immortals to keep this knowledge safe and share among their entire species. The Monitor is many things to the Immortals: it is their leader, their guardian, their culture, and their history. To lose the Monitor would mean to lose all of the knowledge the Immortals had spent centuries gathering. The Monitor itself is a seemingly omniscient being who, at one point in time, was regarded as the closest thing in the galaxy to a true god. A great many battles were fought over the powers of the Monitor, with Ray Shishigami claiming its powers for his own use before being replaced by Margaret Erachin, the daughter of Axel.
While Automation was destroyed by the Beyonders, the Immortals managed to evacuate the Monitor and send messengers to other planets, warning them of the impending dangers.
Four Horsemen
The Four Horsemen is composed of four extraordinarily powerful figures whose goals are, as of now, unknown. They are lead by the weapons developer known simply as the Blacksmith. Despite the fact that he creates weapons, the Blacksmith swears allegiance to no nation and works on projects that only he himself has taken a personal interest in. While the Blacksmith has bestowed many powerful gifts upon various armies and his own followers, it is commonly accepted that the Blacksmith keeps all of his best weapons for his own use. Frequently regarded as one of if not the most intelligent being in the galaxy, the Blacksmith is a powerful adversary for our heroes.
Accompanying the Blacksmith is Sloth, a gargantuan warrior even among his fellow Khurr who was gifted by the Blacksmith with the powers of the Forefathers, essentially turning him into a demigod. Sloth is formerly an apprentice of Achilles whose laziness and desire for quick results lead to him ignoring many of his master's teachings. Despite never surpassing Achilles, Sloth is an immensely powerful warrior in his own right who was granted immortality and improved strength from the Blacksmith's gifts.
Hail serves as the Blacksmith's personal bodyguard and assassin. Hail was originally named Sora, and served as a soldier alongside Ray Shishigami as part of the infamous Black Ops project designed to create perfect assassins for the Empire. During her training, Ray Shishigami betrayed her and left for her dead on the frozen planet known as Glacier. The only way she was able to survive was by forming a bond with a symbiotic being who refers to himself as Frosty. The bond gave her immense power at the cost of having to ensure that Frosty is kept well fed, unless she wants to risk being devoured herself.
The final member of the Four Horsemen is named Glorious. Prior to her affiliation with the group, Glorious one of the Opera foundations top projects. Designed to be the perfect soldier, Glorious was acutely aware of her own superiority, causing her to become narcissistic. With some help from the Blacksmith, Glorious can now create clones of herself at will, ensuring that she is never outnumbered. Glorious has recently begun infiltrating the Optimists and she has begun using them to assist the Four Horsemen in achieving their goals.
The Four Horsemen did not start the apocalypse. They just wish to ensure that it all goes according to plan.
The Beyonders
Ever since they were discovered by Immortal scientists and emerged from the black hole, the Beyonders have been unstoppable in their rampage across the galaxy. First they attacked Automation which, given its population of Immortals, possessed one of the galaxy's most powerful military forces. But Automation barely slowed them down as, next, they turned their attention to the current humans settlement on planet Daredevil, but not even their mighty fleets could hold them off. Now, it is expected that the next target of the Beyonders is the Red planet of Himalaya.
As a new adversary, not much is known about the Beyonders. They are all incredibly large, standing roughly ten times the size of the average H.M.V., and they seem focused solely on destruction. While many assumed that the Beyonders were simply mindless beasts, many suspect that the Beyonders are smarter than they appear as they immediately targeted two of the most powerful military forces in the galaxy. In addition to the unique abilities possessed by each Beyonder, the monsters are also adaptable, with one of their members on planet Daredevil showing that it is capable of turning the H.M.V.s it captures against its former pilots.
There is still much to learn about the Beyonders, but they are unlike any threat the Mjolnir galaxy has ever faced before.
Sign-ups
As a quick note on how the sign-up process is going to work, sign-ups will be open until Sunday (April 30th) when they will close. This means that you have plenty of time to get everything right. I accept the best sign-ups, not the first, meaning that I will not inform you of whether or not you are accepted until that date. Until then, I will be providing you guys with both praise and constructive criticism on your sign-ups. As you write, there are few things to keep in mind. The main requirement for your characters is that, for some reason or another, you want to fight the Beyonders in what it is essentially a suicide mission. How you convey this in your sign-up is up to you (money can be motivation).
-Uniqueness: Does your character and an established one fill a similar role on the team?
-Anime: Does your character fit into this kind of setting? It has to be slightly goofy, but not so over-the-top that it doesn't make sense.
-Overpowered: Everyone in Rise gets to be an established badass, but it should be fair to say that for every advantage your character has, they should have a weakness as well. Is your character super strong? Then they should not be too smart. Can they control fire? Then they must hate rain!
-Presentation: Hey, I have to read all of your sign-ups. I like the pretty ones.
-Layout: Once again, I have to read all your sign-ups. Are you deviating from my formula only to show off how good of a writer you are? Chances are, I won't even respond to your sign-up. Believe it or not, the format below exists for a reason, that being my own sanity.
-Originality: You have a ton of freedom for character creation. Don’t just take your favorite character from a book or movie and copy them.
-Solo Act: I don’t like duos. You can have a sidekick (such as a pet or little sister who can’t fight), but in general your characters should be bound together. This includes having a sentient mech. If you want to do two entirely separate characters (such as a couple), maybe another player can take on this role?
-Room to Grow: Your character should be able to develop from one rp to the next. This isn’t so much a requirement as a recommendation: you will be much more invested in your character if their story is not over by the time the rp takes place.
-No giant monsters: We are fighting kaiju. You cannot be a kaiju.
-New Stuff: This is a message for my older and more experienced players who have been a part of Rise before...this is a new generation. I want to start back from square one, meaning I don’t want there to be any returning characters or their children. Do something new.
Name: Obvious so far? Keep up with me.
Age: The Average lifespan of Rise characters is far longer than those of our time. Sixty is considered to be middle aged. This also varies for many alien races.
Gender: In between is acceptable for some aliens and humans.
Race: Yes, you can create your own alien species. If you are unsure of where to start, take a gander at these established races. As a general rule, don't be something too big to get through doors. It makes things complicated.
Appearance: Pictures are a man's best friend. I recommend Deviantart, but if you are using a picture of an established character, make sure their appearance is the only aspect of who they are that you borrow. Its one thing to use a picture of Luke Skywalker, its another to try and play as a Jedi.
Weapons: There will be on-foot battles. As such, your character should still be deadly (and fun to play) even without his or her mech.
Equipment: What else does your character have outside of weapons? This can include descriptions of their armor, the frying pan they keep in their backpack, or their sweet hover-board.
Affiliation: Rise has quite a few fan-made factions. Want to be a member of one of them, or be connected to one of the groups I mentioned? This is where you would list it. If your character is entirely independent, just list them as 'Spacer.'
Skills: Another new section. What makes your character stand out? What can they contribute to the team? This should include skills for both on and off the battlefield.
Personality: Don't worry too much about this one. Hopefully, with a little character development, your personality will change over time.
Bio: The bio does not have to be too long. Give us a brief outline of where your character came from. You are free to leave some stuff to be revealed in the actual rp. Also, I want new characters, so no returners even if your character from Rise 6 is still alive. Give me something new!
Origins: Consider this a sample post.This can be about any aspect of your character's life. Perhaps you want to talk about an awesome mission they pulled off? Maybe you want to show your character having a conversation in a bar on the far side of space? Essentially, your goal with the origin section is to give us a good indication of how your character will look in action.
Misc:The final new portion of the sign-up, list pets and extraneous gear here.
H.M.V. (Humanoid Military Vehicle. Otherwise known as your mech.)
Mech Name: Be zany!
Pilot Specialty: What are you good for as an H.M.V. pilot. Think of this as your role on the battlefield. And remember, we can't all be snipers!
Mech Appearance: Pictures are also preferred here.
Weapons: What is your mech packing?
Special Attributes: This section is where you would list some of your mech's special powers that make them stand out. Some mechs are simply well armored and equipped with standard guns, while others have a wide variety of powers that resemble a superhero. If your character has one super ability (ex. can control fire) don't give them anything else (ex. can control ice). Also, your mech can be an Immortal, but you should not just give your character a self-aware mech for the heck of it. If you want to go this route, it should be a pivotal part of your character.
Mecha Origins: How did your character acquire their mech? Also, if you want your character to have a cool half-kaiju mech of their own, don't worry, you can acquire one eventually.
Character Theme: A Rise tradition. When your character does something awesome, what song should be playing in our heads? Limit yourself to one. Use the media tags to insert a video.
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[b]Character Themes:[/b]Name: Sonya Pavlov
Age: 14
Gender: Cute but deadly, a rare subspecies of female.
Race: Human
Appearance:
Equipment: In order to navigate difficult terrain, Sonya can make her chair hover for a short time. It can only lift a small distance off the ground, but it does allow her to more easily navigate terrain that she would never be able to push through with her tires alone. Outside of that, Sonya wears her father's helmet on her head despite the fact that it is too large for her. Since she is no longer working with her former squad of Demons, Sonya no long wears their traditional mask, though she does keep her jacket with her out of pride.
Affiliation: Former squad commander of the Demons, inaugural member of the Giant Hunters.
Skills: As a former commander, Sonya is a skilled leader capable of altering her tactics even when in the middle of a tense battle. In order to earn the respect of her troops, Sonya was forced to work harder than any of them in order to be prepared for any situation she might come across. As such, Sonya has valuable knowledge on weapons, alien races, and strategies that may prove useful in a variety of situations. Sonya is also very passionate about weapons, and can often be caught fangirling in private over the most recently released rifle designs.
Personality: Despite her appearance, Sonya is one of the toughest soldiers you will ever encounter. She is fearless, resourceful, and merciless when the situation calls for such. However, despite her prowess on the battlefield, Sonya is still a young girl who has yet to "grow up." In particular, Sonya is very sensitive about her relationship with her father who served as a former Balor for the Demons before his ship was destroyed in combat. Sonya pushes herself hard to live up to his legacy. She is also very sensitive about her height, and will happily fight anyone who calls her short. This is still true even though she sits in a wheelchair.
Bio:
Sonya's father served as Balor of the Demons. Ever since she was born, expectations were high that Sonya would follow in her father's footsteps and become a great leader in her own right. When Sonya was in training at the military academy, she heard news that her father's ship was destroyed in combat with the Reds. Since he was the only family she had, many thought that Sonya would have been devastated. Still, all of her teachers insisted that they never saw her cry or get upset. At least, not in public. Not even once. Everyone deals with grief differently, and Sonya did so by pushing herself harder to excel in her studies. She excelled in all aspects of serving as a Demon, and when she graduated early she was immediately allowed to work in the field. Once more, Sonya exceeded expectations despite her youth, and was soon placed in charge of her own squad prior to the Beyonders assaulting Planet Daredevil. Now, Sonya had been made into the first member of the Giant Hunters, a team of elite soldiers and mercenaries tasked with reclaiming planet Daredevil from the invading aliens. In addition to her abilities as a commander, Sonya also brings with her a unique H.M.V. that was nearly turned into a monster by the Beyonders.
Origins:
As Balor met with the Princess of the Reds, Sonya found herself with her first opportunity to relax. Everything had happened so fast that she barely had time to adjust to how much things have changed, particularly the fact that she could no longer use her legs. Thankfully, modern wheelchairs came equipped with a hover features that made it easier to navigate difficult terrain and even climb up stairs. Still, it was a poor substitute for walking. Never before had she felt more vulnerable, and she hated the idea that she might become a liability on the battlefield. Chances are that, without Ryu, she wouldn't even be allowed to fight anymore. The single silver lining in all this that this rare and unexpected opportunity gave Sonya an excuse to buy this new pair of shotguns she had seen online. With a few modifications, Sonya felt that she could find a way to attach them to her wheelchair!
She heard loud footsteps coming up behind her. Hello Sonya.
"Oh, uh, hi Ryu." Sonya said. The young Demon was sitting quietly in the hangar of the ship that, for the time being, she called home. In her hand was a weapon's magazine. "I swear, I'm not sure that I will ever get used to you walking up behind me like that."
My apologies. It can be easy to forget how much larger I am than most of you humans. Ryu explained. For a monster/H.M.V. hybrid, he could be quite the gentleman. I was hoping to take this opportunity to explore this planet a little bit. Care to join me?
"Not particularly." Sonya shook her head. "I'm still not very comfortable with the Reds. Besides, I thought that you were supposed to stay in your hangar?"
And just wait for the impending battle? Not likely. Ryu crossed his arms. The Demon engineers are perfectly willing to ask me to fight for them against the Beyonders, but when I ask to explore the planet they called home, they refuse. How can they expect me to fight to save their planet when I know nothing about them?
"Well, what do you want Ryu?" Sonya asked. "Do you want to fight?"
I...I don't know. I don't know anything. It's like I was born yesterday. Ryu fell silent, staring at Sonya for a reaction that never came. That was a joke. You're supposed to be laughing.
"Then be funny and I might laugh." Sonya said with a chuckle. "Try a knock-knock joke."
Hmm, this humor thing is more challenging than I thought. Having access to the internet gives me access to thousands of the galaxy's best jokes, but nothing about how to deliver them. Ryu sighed. Attempts at humor aside, I'm bound to you Sonya. If you will fight, then so shall I.
"That doesn't sound very fair." Sonya replied.
Yes, well, neither was losing your legs I guess. Yet here we are. As soon as the words came out, Ryu covered his mouth. Sorry. That was rude of me.
"It's alright. Oddly enough it still doesn't seem real. Sometimes I even forget and try to move my legs or stand up, but nothing happens." Sonya said. "The truth is, the main reason I don't want to explore this town is because of how relaxed the Reds are. Most of the people are just going about their business as though nothing has changed. They're so ignorant of what's really happening here! It's like there aren't any giant monsters at all!"
Well, there's one. Sonya smiled, prompting Ryu to snap his fingers in frustration. Dang it, that was a close one. Since there's no witnesses, I'm going to say that you laughed.
"Its just...it was like nothing I've ever fought before. Nothing I've fought ever made me feel so small, and this was from inside of an H.M.V. And yet here the Reds are, the aliens I've fought against my entire life, and they don't care about either the monsters or the humans living above them. All they do is continue tending to their crops and walking around with their little families. Like, what did we fight for all this time?" Sonya asked.
And so instead of going to explore a planet that no human has ever set foot on, you choose to sit here and read dirty magazines.
"It's not a dirty magazine. It's about guns!"
And yet that bazooka is clearly being held by a muscular gentlemen in his underwear.
Sonya's face turned bright red as she tried to hide the magazine from Ry's sight. "I read it for the articles!"
Regardless, unless you want his pectoral muscles to be the last thing you see, I would recommend coming with me and learn a little bit more about the creatures you may die trying to protect sometime soon. Ryu held out his hand. I might even step on one if it makes you feel better.
At long last, Sonya finally laughed.
Misc: Was disappointed that the magazine "Big Guns Monthly" featured men flexing as opposed to giant weapons she could use in battle.
H.M.V.
Name: Ryu
Pilot Specialty: Tactics and close range combat. Sonya excels at directing her fellow soldiers on the battlefield and can quickly adapt her tactics to the challenge at hand. With the aid of Ryu, Sonya excels in close quarters where her H.M.V. can quickly tear enemies to shreds. While many pilots move and fight much like an abnormally large human, Sonya fights like a rampaging monster on the field of battle, and she can often lose herself in especially chaotic situations.
Mech Appearance:
Weapons: Ryu is unlike any other H.M.V. ever created. Its most noticeable weapon are its arms which can transform into two different forms. In their first form, Ryu has access to twin laser cannons that can shoot down enemies from a considerable distance. In their second form, the arms grow massive claws that are incredibly sharp. These claws are capable of ripping apart an enemy H.M.V. with ease. In addition, while they are not technically weapons, Ryu's teeth and tail can also be used in close quarters combat, making her unpredictable.
Special Attributes: Ryu's most unique attribute is its healing factor. Whereas most H.M.V.s. would have to land in a docking station to receive prepares, Ryu is capable of reforming many of his damaged parts as they are made of living tissue. Ryu is far from invincible however, as this healing process can take time and it still takes only one shot to his reactor core to completely destroy him. Ryu also has a special bond with Sonya that nobody can fully explain. Essentially, the two have a psychic link that allows the pair to see through each other's eyes and know whatever it is the other is going through. They also feel each other's pain, meaning that any wound that affects Sonya will also harm Ryu. Ryu's biggest weakness is his lack of speed. After being made part-Beyonder, Ryu sacrificed his jets for a pair of wings. While these wings allow him to pull off aerial maneuvers that other H.M.V.s are incapable of, his wings simply cannot match their speed. This combined with his limited weaponry makes it challenging for him to fight enemies at a distance, meaning that he often relies on allies to help himself get close.
Mecha Origins: A unique Beyonder was spotted during the assault in Daredevil that had a scorpion-like tail. The Beyonder was capable of transforming ordinary H.M.V.s into monsters much like itself. These transformed H.M.V.s were then spotted following this one Beyonder's every command. Sonya lead a squad in an attack on this particular Beyonder, but when they thought the beast was incapacitated, she herself was stabbed. Thankfully, she was greed from this Beyonder's grasp before the process could be completed, leaving her with an H.M.V> that was half-machine and half monster.
Character Themes:
